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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.25  III  1.4 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


33  Wi>T  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  r4.Y.  USSO 

(716)873-4503 


^1> 

'^V^ 
^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  JVIicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiquaa 


T 
t( 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
wliich  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checiced  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Coui/erture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurte  et/ou  pelliculte 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r~71   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  w'^t/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reiii  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  Interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
li  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  fiimies. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lul  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  fllmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
0 
D 
0 
D 
D 

n 


\/ 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtes  et/ou  peliicui^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoior^es,  tacheties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachtes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

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Quaiit^  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppi^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponibie 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmtes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


T 
P 

0 

fi 


C 

fa 

tl 

8 
0 
f 

8 
C 


0 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppi6mentaires: 


Various  paging*. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

1 

>/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

^ 


tails 
I  du 
odifier 
une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  rexempiaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comparte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — *-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrsnt  la  methods. 


rrata 
;o 


fielure. 
Id 


1 

2 

3 

H 


32X 


6 


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AMERICA!,  /]liVA.ij:j(S, 

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D,:KIN(i  Oth  -.y^n  IVITI!  v,y:u\i  ly  thk  yL,!:,~  1S|..  'u  A.Wll 


"^ I  •.".•■mii^Pi-  A,,,. 


si>:7eRAL  yAVAf,  n,vrri.ics  dctn^ki  v  ^mkui  an  ani* 

,     BlUTLvl  .'■;FIIP>>.Oi.\VAU. 


MV 


O  ONB  TOr.U.lTE.  lill-TKATEft 


NEW   YORK; 

PUBLISHED   BY    ANI>   l"nu   TH  K  A  i;T?rOI?. 

C.  T.  EVAN15,  AGENT.  321  riBOAOrt'AV, 


1S5G. 


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HISTORY 


OF  TlIE 


AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS, 

AND  LETT£RS-OF-MA]{(JUE, 


DURING  OUR  WAR  WITH  ENGIASD  IN  THE  TEARS  181},  'H  AND  Ml, 


INTERSPEltSKD   WITH 


SEVERAL  NAVAL  RAITLES  BETWEEN  AMERICAN  AND 
BllITlSlI  SIIIPS-OF-WAR. 


BY 


GEORGE    COGGEHIIALL 

AUTHOR   OF   "  VOYAGES  TO   VAKIUIS   PAHTS  OF  ■tllX   WORLD." 


IN  ONE  VOLUME,  ILLUSTRATER 


J 


NEW  YOEK: 

PUBLISHED  BY   AND   FOR   THE  AUTHOR. 
C.  T.  EVANS,  AGENT,  321  BROADWAY. 

1856. 


.'I 


155070 


WHO   i- 


Kiil.ri;<1  accordiiisf  lo  Ad  nf  (•(inpn.sg,  in  tlii'  your  IR.Vi,  ly 

(;K(llt(iK  ('n(i(iESHAI.I,, 

In  till-  ('!.  rl,  V  iiiTiri-of  llie  Dislnct  i„iiri  ot  me  U   itcd  Slulex,  for  the  Fonlhcrn  rinliicl  of 

\.'W  York. 


I  N      1^ 


lliWAIII)   <).    .IKXKIXS, 
I'rINTI'.K  AM)  .SlKKKOTYl-KU, 
■.!'  rr.iiAiiirl  St..  N".  Y 


fa  i^j  Sriibc  Jnuricans 

\7!I0   SERVKD   TTIEFR   COUNTRY    IN    PRIVATEERS    AND 
LETTERS-OK-MARQl'R 

IN  THE   WAR   WITH   ENGLAND, 
IN      rilK     Y|.:aHS      IMI^,    -i;},     AND     '14. 

THIS  WORK 

IS  UKSPKCTKUU-T  AND  APKECTrONATFJ.T  OEDirATKD   BV 

THE  AUTHOR. 


\ 


Ar.TiK 
sons!  bio 
dcrtakeii 
•liity  was 
iciiii  Pit 
writtcMi. 

High  1 
awarded 
Iiavo    acli 
oouragG  ] 
torl)^,  coc 
abound  ii 
But  th( 
service,  in 
temple,  h 
Xo  testim 
their  bloo 
vices  in  c; 
But  their 
a  desire  i'( 
which  led 
It  has 
their  char? 


Amiiougii  fiir  iulvunced  on  the  voyage  of  life,  and 
sensible  of  the  magnitiule  of  the  work  lie  has  un- 
dertaken, yet  the  author  of  this  vohune  felt  that  In's 
duty  was  unperformed  whik>  the  History  of  the  Anier- 
i<Mii  Privateers  and  Lotters-of-:\rar(|ne  remained  un- 
written. 

High  |)laees  in  the  temple  of  fame  have  been  justly 
awarded  to  very  many,  who,  in  the  national  emi)loy'mcnt. 
have    achieved  exploits  not  more    brilliant,    displayed 
courage  not   more  daring,  seamanship  not  more  mas- 
terly, coolness  in    danger   not  more  remarkable   than 
abound  in  the  records  of  the  private    ar:i,-d  service. 
But  the  bravo  and  patriotf,?  men  who  adorned  that 
service,  instead  of  being  awarded  a  proud  niche  in  that 
temple,  have   encountered  neglect,  and  even  obloquv. 
Xo  testimonials  of  national   gratitude  have  rewarded 
their  blood-bought  victories,  and  their  invaluable  sei-- 
vices  in  crippling  the  resources  of  the  common  enemv-. 
But  their  motives  have  been  assailed,  and  cupidity  a.i.l 
a  desire  for  booty  imputed  to  them  as  the   impulses 
which  led  to  their  bold  achievements. 

It  has  been  the  object  of  the  author   to  vindicate 
their  characters,  as  well  as  to  record  their  ti-iumphs.     l^ 

(5) 


VI 


rUKFACK. 


he  fiiils  to  |ii'()vc  lliivt  (liolr  purposes  were  ek'vak'(l  and 
jiiilriolic,  iind  that  tlioy  were  most  I'dicii'iit  in  weaken- 
infj;  llie  iinn  of  onr  powerl'iil  an<l  inveterate  adver.suiy. 
he  lias  liiili'd  to  do  jii.slici!  (o  Mh  tlienie,  and  to  tlie  truth 
(»r  liistoi'v.  Ho  conld  liave  wislied  tliat  \\\v  su])ie('t  had 
fallen  into  ahler  hands  :  hnl  he  ean,  at  least,  bring  to  it 
fidelity  <>1'  statement,  and  knowledf^e  derived  from  his 
personal  intimacy  an<l  IVecjncnt  conimnnieation,  both 
iit  home  and  abroad,  with  many  of  the  eommandern 
of  Privateers  and  Letlers-ol'-Marciue,  durin*:;  tlie  war, 
and  since. 

He  has  been  aided  much  in  his  collection  of  facts  by 
information  received  from  the  Captains  and  OfTicers  of 
the  United  States  Navy,  especially  from  (.'(mnnodores 
Hull  and  ^tcwart,  as  well  as  from  other  intelligent  gen- 
tlemen who  bore  an  active  part  in  the  great  conflict  be- 
tween the  two  nations.  He  has  also  found  in  many  of 
the  newspapers  and  other  periodicals  of  1812,  1813,  and 
1814,  valuable  oHicial  and  statistical  documents,  espe- 
cially in  the  excellent  and  accurate  Register  of  Mr. 
Niles,  published  at  Baltimore.  Many  of  the  facts  re- 
corded in  these  pages  will  also  bo  found  verified  by 
Tooper's  History  of  the  Ignited  States  Navy. 

The  author,  himself,  commanded,  during  the  war,  two 
l^ctters-of-Marque,  the  Schooners  ''David  Porter"  and 
"  Leo,"  and  at  this  late  day,  recollects  almost  all  the  im- 
))ortant  incidents  of  the  war  as  distinctly  as  though  they 
had  occurred  within  the  last  two  years. 

It  has  been  the  author's  aim  to  give  the  name  of 
every  Privateer  and  Letter-of-Marque  which  sailed  from 


our  port 
done  so 
which  h( 
He  lia 
manders 
in   ever} 
changed 
succeede 
other  vc! 
Many 
hint  "  br 
of    whi(;l 
had    it 
entitled  t 
Tho  ai 
to  show 
prove    tl 
tho  great 
fence. 

P]nglan 
six  or  eig 
dress.  N 
hausted,  .• 
last  alterr 
The  rci 
other  def 
has  been  i 
strictest  ti 
charge  of  i 
ploits  of  0 


IMUOFACK, 


VII 


our  ports  diiriii;;  tli<!  war,  Jiiid  lie  believes  tlmt  lie  luis 
done  80,  tlu)uy,li  a  lew  may  have  been  employed  of 
which  ho  lindH  no  record. 

lie  has  also  endeavored  to  give  the  names  of  the  com- 
manders of  each  vessel,  but  probably  has  not  suc(!ced«"l 
in  every  instance,  as  the  Captains  were  sometimes 
chan«5ed  during  cruises,  or  were  killed  in  action,  and 
succeeded  by  others,  and  in  many  instances  jjromotcd  to 
other  vessels. 

Many  prizes  were  destroyed  at  sea,  and  many  a  gal- 
lant "  brush"  with  an  enemy  of  superior  forct^  occurred, 
of  which  no  olBcial  record  was  made  :  but  vvhicii, 
had  it  been  in  the  national  service,  would  havi' 
entitled  those  who  conducted  it  to  promotion  and  fame. 

Tho  author  has  also  endeavored,  in  his  introduction, 
to  show  tho  justice  of  tho  war  on  our  part,  and  to 
prove  that  it  was  waged  pur(^ly  in  ol)edience  to 
the  great  law  of  nations,  as  well  as  nature — self-de- 
fence. 

England  had  virtually  warred  on  oiu-  commerce  for 
six  or  eight  years,  without  our  being  able  to  obtain  re- 
dress. Negotiation  and  remonstrance  wore  finally  ex- 
hausted, and  we  were  compelled  to  resort  to  war  as  the 
last  alternative  of  civilized  nations. 

The  reader  will  pardon  the  assurance  that  whatever 
other  deficiencies  may  be  found  in  this  volume,  there 
has  been  no  lack  of  a  sincere  intention  to  adhere  to  the 
strictest  truth  in  its  statements,  and  rather  to  incur  the 
chargeof  scanty  than  exaggerated  description  of  the  ex- 
ploits of  our  private  armed  service. 


Dedication.  . , 

Preface 

MtssAQE  OF  n 
Report  of  Co 
Proclamatiom 
Mr.  Adams  C 
Restoration  ( 
Introduction. 


niEPABATION 
SMALL  PRIV 
PITTING  OUT 
NKW  YORK— 
VATEERS  BEl 
CAROLINA — C 
BY  A  BRITISK 
LISBON,  VIZ., 
CAPTAIN  nUI. 
FOR  ANOTIIEH 
THE  COAST  0 
OF  THE  UNIT! 
WITH  THH  Gl 
REMARKS  ON 
BOSTON— HIS 


COISTTENTS. 


pioa 

Dedication iii 

Prkpage ▼ 

MlSSAGG  OF  TUB   FhESIDENT ZV 

Report  of  Committee  on  Foreiun  Relations xxiv 

Proclamation  cf  War  by  toe  President xxxix 

Mb.  Adams  Opinion  of  tiik  War xl 

Restoration  of  Seamen  taken  prom  the  Chesapeake xlii 

Introduction xliii 


CHAPTER    I. 


rnEPARATION  for  war — DISPATCH  PILOT  BOAT  TO  00TTENBUR(J — COMMENCH  WITH 
SMALL  PRIVVTEERS  SEVERAL  PRIVATEERS  SAIL  FROM  NEW  YORK — PRIVATEERS 
FITTING  OUT  FROM  THK  EASTERN  STATES— TABLE  OP  PRIVATEERS  BELONGING  TO 
NEW  YORK — AN  EMBARGO  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT — TABLE  OP  PRI- 
VATEERS BELONGING  TO  BALTIMORE — PUFVATEERS  JTIOM  RHODE  ISLAND  AND  SOUTH 
CAROLINA — CONSTITUTION,  CAPTAIN' HUI^L,  OFF  NEW  YORK — CONSTITUTION  CHASED 
BY  A  BRITISH  FLEET— CHASE  CONTINUED  FOR  THREE  DAYS — THREE  SHIPS  SAIL  FROM 
LISBON,  VIZ.,  AMERICA,  ELIZA  ORACIE,  AND  OKONOKO — TWO  OF  THEM  CAPTURED — 
CAPTAIN  HULL  ARRIVES  AT  BOSTON — HIS  KIND  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE — REFITS 
FOR  ANOTHER  CRUISE — SAIT^  FROM  BOSTON  ON  THE  2nD  OF  AUGUST — CRUISE  OFF 
THE  COAST  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA — JOURNAI,  OF  HIS  CRUISE — ANXIETY  OP  THE  PEOPLE 
OP  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE  FATE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION — CAPTAIN  HULL  MEETS 
WITH  THE  GUERRIERE  ON  THE  IQtH  OP  ATIGUST — DEFEAT  OF  THE  OUERRIKRE — 
REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  SHIPS — CAPTAIN  HULL  RBfURNS  TO 
BOSTON— HIS  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE 1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   II. 


LIST  OF  FRIOATES  FIT  FOR  81SA— FIMT  BBITISII  SHIP  CAmiBED  AND  SF-NT  INTO  NOBFOI-K 
— CAriTJllE  OK  TUB  URITIHU  OOVIUINMKNT  SCllOONKR  WIIITINO — COMBAT  HCTWEliN  TUB 
liETTKa-OF-MARQlJE-SClIOONEK  FALCON  AND  T}IE  lUUTISIl  CTTTKU  HEUO—  HIXTY-FIVB 
rRIVATEEIlS  AND  LETTERS-OP-MA RQUK  AT  SEA  ON  THE  1  CTII  OK  JULY,  181*2 — FOUR 
PRIVATEERS  LEAVE  THE  CAPES  OF  TUB  DELAWARE  ON  THE  20tH  OF  Ji;i.Y — PHIZES 
ARRIVING  ALMOST  DAILY  IN  THE  ATLANTIC  PORTS  SUCCIMSFUL  CRUISE  OF  TUB  PRIVA- 
TEER-SCHOONER FAME,  OF  SALEM — CAPTURE  OF  A  BRITISH  TRANSPORT  URIO,  SF.NT  INTO 
OLOUCBSTtUl — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  SLOOP  POLLY  FROM  THE  raOLISII  SLOOP-OK- 
WAR  INDIAN — CAPTURE  OF  THE  SHIP  MARGARET  BY  THE  PRIVATEtlR  TEAZER  -EXTRACT 
FROM  A  LONDON  NEWSPAPER— liUlTISII  BRIO  LEDNIDAS  SENT  INTO  SAVANN.  H  BY  THE 
MARS — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  S.  CLARK  BY  THE  OLOBE,  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — 
PRIVATEER  JOUN  RETURNS  TO  SALEM,  AITEB  A  SUCCIMHFUL  fllUISE  C()MMOIM)RE  BARNEY 
ARRIVF»S  AT  NEWPORT  IN  THE  ROSSIE,  ON  THE  .30tII  OF  AUOUST.  AFTER  A  KUCCF-3SFUL 
CRUISE — A  SEVERE  FIOHT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  SKaOOW  AND  BIUTISH  SHIP  MARY — 
BRITISH  SHIP  QUEBEC  CAITIIRED  BY  THE  SARATOGA — CHASE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  JACK's 
FAVORITE  BY  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  SUBTLE,  AND  THE  LOSS  OF  TUB  I.ATTER..  .    3') 


CHAPTER    III. 


HArn.K  BCTWKKN  THE  UNITED  STATES  FRIGATE  UNITED  STATES  AND  THE  BRITISH  FlilGATE 
MACEDONIAN — REMARKS  ON  ADMIRAL  WARREN'S  BLOCKADING  THE  AMERICAN  PORTS — 
BRITISH  SHIP  JOUN  CAITURED  BY  THBCOMET — A  VALUABLE  BBITISII  SHIP 8KNT  INTO  POUT 
LAND  BY  THE  DECATUR — EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  ATLAS,  CAITAIN  MAF- 
FET,  AND  HIS  ACCOUNT  OF  AN  ACTION  WITH  TWO  BRITISH  SHU'S,  WHICH  HE  CAPTURES 
— BirrWEJa'  APRIL  AND  AUGUST,  1812,  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-SIX  AMERICAN  MFJl- 
CHANT  VESSELS  ARRIVE  AT  N>rW  YORK — ON  THE  ISTII  OF  JUNE,  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  PRESFAT  CAPTAIN  ISAAC  HULL  WITH  THE  FREEDOM  OP  TUEIR 
CITY  IN  A  GOLD  BOX — COMMODORE  BARNEY  RETURNS  TO  BALTIMORE,  ON  THE  IOTH  OF 
KOVEMBFJl,  FROM  A  SECOND  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE— EXTRACT  FROM  HIS  LOO-POOK  ON 
THAT  CRUISE — A  GALLANT,  BUT  UNSUCCESSFUL  CONFIJCT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER 
NONSUCH  AND  AN  ENGLISH  SHIP,  OFF  MARTINIQUE — A  MEMORIAL  FROM  TUB  MERCHANTS 
OF  NEW  YORK  TO  THE  CONGRI-SS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  — BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  HAMILTON 
SENT  INTO  BALTIMORE  BY  THE  DOLPHIN  PRIVATEER  -A  BRITISH  SHIP  OP  22  GUNS 
DRIVEN  ON  SHORE  NEAR  DEMARARA,  BY  THE  GENtlRAL  ARMSTRONG — BRITISH  SHIP  QUEEN, 
16  GUNS  AND  40  MEN,  CAPTURED  BY  THE   GENERAL    ARMSTRONG,  ETC 72 


CHAPTER     lY, 


DESPERATE  BATTLE  BCTWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  GENERAL  ARMdTROXG,  CAPTAIN  CHAMP- 
LIN.  AND  A  BRITISH  FRIGATE — A  CRUISE  IN  THE  PRIVATEER  BRIG  YANKEE-  BIIIO 
ANN,  A  PRIZE  TO  THE  SNAP-DRAGON — SEVERAL  PRIZES  BY  THE  SAUCY  JACK.  OF 
CIlAULiaTOX — HOW    PRIVATEERS   MANAGE    TO    TAKE    MERCHANT    VF.SSEIJ3    OUT   OF    A 


FLEET — A  r.( 
AFTER  A  RU 
SNAI'-DUAdO 
BY  THE  PIU 
ENGLISH  8UI 
OF  HALTIMOI 
OF   BRAZIL  / 


CAITAIN  SHAL 
FRI0ATE--T1 
1st  of  JUNF 
FISH  TAKEN  II 
BYTIIETlirK- 
AND  SENT  I N 
THE  SARAT(i( 
CORDELIA,  01- 
A  SUCCKSSFUI 
ford's  FAMd 
GRAMPUS  AT 
AMONG  THE 
ENGAGEMENT 
FAGLISH  BRK 
GOVERNOR  TC 
SCHOONER   CO: 


desperate  bat! 
chari,eston, 
th>j,5thaugu 

— REMARKS  0 
LESTON,  ON 
SCHOONER,  DA 
RHODE  ISLANIl 
PORT — SAILS  I 
THE  BAY  OF  B 
TESTE — SIIORl 
AT  L'iLE  DIEU 
AWAY  FROM  Lj 
— ACCOUNT  01 
VISIT  TO  BORD 


CONTENTS. 


XI 


I 


n,EET — A  rOUP-DK-MAlX— EXPLOSION  OF  A  rRIVAITEIl— JTHVATF.K.ll  WAS)'  CAITfKKJ). 
AFTKK  A  lU'NNrSO  FKJIIT  OF  NINK  HOUKH— A  VALUAIII.E  PRIZE  MT  TlIK  I'KIVATKKK 
H.NAP-DUA(iON— IIKAVK  DKIK.NCK  OF  THE  MUUOONEll  I.OTTEUY— A  liAI.l.ANT  ACllOX 
BY  THE  PIUVATEEK  DOLPHIN,  CAITAIN  STAFFORD,  OFF  CAPP.  8T.  VINCENT,  WITH  AN 
KNULISIt  8UIP  AND  A  lUUG — UK  CAPTUHF-S  THEM  BOTH — PATRIOTISM  OF  THE  OIIY 
OF  UALTIMOKB  -  INTEUESTINO  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAITAIN  llOVLE,  ON  THE  COAST 
OF  BRAZIL  AND  AMONCl   THE   WIST  INDIA   ISLANDS 10.') 


CHAPTER    V. 


CAITAIN  SIIALEr'h  »!OAPr,  IX  THE  PRIVATEER  OOVERNOR  TOMPKINS  FROM  A  BRITISH 
FRIOATE — THE  PRIVATEERS  YANKEE  AND  BLOCKADE  SAIL  FROM  NEWPORT  ON  THE 
1st  of  .ICXE,  ]81;J~  BRITISH  POLICY  of  TAKINQ  NEW  ORLEANS —SCHOONER  FLVINO- 
FISII  TAKEN  IIY  THE  SAVCV  .TACK — BRITISH  SHIP  INDl'STltY  SENT  INTO  BERCJEN.  NORWAY. 
BY  THE  TRrE-I!I.f)OIlEI)  YANKEE — BR  ITISII  SHIP  LONDON  PACKET  CAPTURED  BY  THE  AIIOUS 
AND  SENT  INTO  BOSTON— lililTI.SlI  I'ACKET  .MOIKJIAXNA,  CAlTriSEI)  BY  BOARDINO,  BV 
THE  SARATOGA — FIITEEN  lilllTISIl  VESSELS  CAITrilED  OFF  .lAMAICA,  BY  THE  LOVELY 
CORDELIA,  OF  CHARLESTON — THE  YANKEE  PRIVATEER  HCTURNSTO  RIIODKISLAND  AI.TE11 
A  SUCCKSSKUL  CRUISE — TABLE  OK  I'RIVATEEKS  BELONOIXG  TO  SALEM  -  CAITAIN  STAF- 
FORD'S FAMOUS  DEFEXCE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN -ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRIV.VTEER 
(iRAMPUS  AT  NEW  YOliK  —  NARROW  iSCAPB  OF  THIS  VF»«SEL,  WHILE  CRUISIXO 
AMONG  THE  CANARY  ISLANDS — EULOGY  ON  CAITAIN  JOHN  MURPHY — DliSPERATV: 
ENGAGEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  GLOBE,  CAITAIN  IlICHARD  MOON,  WITH  TWO 
ENGLISH  BRIGS,  OFF  MADEIRA — BRITISH  SHIP  NEREID  CAPTURED  OFF  MADEIRA  BY  THE 
OOTiniNOU  TOMPKINS— INTERHSTINO  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  IN  THE 
SCHOONER   COMET 140 


CHAPTER    VI. 


DBSPKHATE  BATTLE, FOUGHT  BETWEEN  THE  AMERICAN  PRIVATEER-SCHOONER  DECATUR,  OF 
CHARLESTON,  CAPTAIN  DIRON,  AND  Hlf^  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  DOMINICA,  ON 
TH>i  5m  AUGUST,  181  .'5—  SAFE  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  DECATUR  AND  HER  PRIZE  AT  CHARL^TON 
—REMARKS  ON  THE  BAI'TLE — THE  DECATUR  STARTS  ON  A  FRIBH  CRUISE  FROM  CHAR- 
LESTON, ON  THE  26Tn  NOVEMBER  —  VOYAGE  TO  FRANCE  IN  LETTER-OK-MARQUE 
SCHOONER,  DAVID  PORTER,  GEORGE  COOGESHALL,  COMMANDER — LOADS  AT  PROVIDENCr, 
RHODE  ISLAND— SAILS  FROM  NEWPORT — CHASED  OFF  CHARLF.STON — ARRIVES  AT  THAT 
PORT — SAILS  FRO^t  CHARLISTON  FOR  FRANCE — LOSS  OF  FIRST  PRIZE — TERRIBLE  GALE  IX 
THE  BAY  OF  BISCAY — THE  SCHOONER  THROWN  ON  HER  BEAJI-KXDS — ARRIVta  AT  i,A 
TESTE — SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  BAY  OF  BISCAY — MAKRS  SEVERAL  CAPTURKS — ARRIVRS 
ATL'ILE  DIEU — REMARKS  ON  THAT  ISLAND — DIFFICULTira  AT  BORDEAUX— HURRim 
AWAY  FROM  LA  TfMTE — VISIT  TO  LA  ROCHELLE — BRIG  IDA's  ESCAPE  FRO.M  LA  ROCHELLE 
— ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  MARY  BY  THE  RATTLESNAKE — 
VISIT  TO  BORDEAUX  AND  PARIS 172 


xn 


CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER  yil. 


♦UiniSES  OP  TlfK  HCOUROR  AND  nATTLESNAKE— TIIKY  TAKE  NUMEU0U3  PRIZEfl — PRI- 
(lATK  I'lUWIDfLNT,  CdMMODOIlE  IIODHERH,  CKl'ISINO  OKF  THE  NOUTH  CAPE — DUONTIIKIM, 
rs  NOUWAV— THE  nATTLJiiNAKE  ARKIVra  AT  I-A  KO0IIEM,E — THE  SAUCY  JACK  OAP- 
TIKES  THE  SHIP  PEUCAM,  AND  TAKKaS  IIEII  10  CHAIU,fyTON— THE  (IHAND  TUIIK 
CAPTUURS  THE  INDIAN  LASS,  AND  SENDS  HKIl  TO  KAf.EM  -CKinSB  OK  THE  I'UIVATEER 
PERRY,  OK  RAI.TIMORE— DESPERATE  RATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  NEUKCHATEI,  PRIVATEER 
AND  THE  HOATS  OF  A  HRrTISH  MAN-OK-WAR  OFF  NANTUCKET— THE  PRIVATEER 
HARPY,  OK  IlAI/riMOUE,  CAPTUUha  THE  IHUTISH  I'ACKKT  PRINCESS  EMZABETH — 
THE  PRKATEER  SABINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAITURF-a  THE  lUUTISH  SHIP  COUNTESS  OF 
HARCOUnT— CAITUHE  OF  THE  NEW  FREDERICK  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  KEMP — NARROW 
fSCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  FOX  FROM  A  BIUTISII  SHIP-OF-WAR— THE  PRIVATEER 
CAROLINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAITUUE8  THE  BUITIS]!  HUIO  ELIZABETH,  AND  SENDS 
nvn  TO  CHAHLF.STON— CAPTURE  OF  A  SCHOONER  BY  THE  KEMP  OF  BALTIMORK  THE 
schooner's  ARRIVAL   AT   CAFE   FRANCOIS 219 


mVrJ^    AT 

A   GREAT   i 

TEMllER,    TC 

PRIVATEER! 

24th   OF   Ni 

SHOW  THE 

OFFICER— C 

BY  THE  BAR. 

— ARRIVAL 

COXFMCT  BK 

ST.  DOMINO( 

THE  KEMP,  1 

WlLLOUOini! 

VATEER  HAR 

FJt'OLISH  EAS 


CHAPTER   VIII 


A  SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE-SCHOONER   LEO,    GEORGE  COGOESHALL,  COM- 
MANDER, FROM  l'oRIENT  TO  CHARLESTON,  AND  HER  CAPrUIlE  IN  THE  YEARS  1814  AND 
1815 — PREPARE    AND  FIT    OUT  THE    LEO  AT    l/ ORIENT —DISARMED   BY  ORDER  OP  THE 
FRFJICII    GOVERNMENT— SAIL    FROM  l'orIENT — I'KOCEED   TO  THE  ENGLISH  CHANNEL — 
CAITURE  SEVERAL  PRIZKS— COMPELLED  TO   LEAVE    THE    CHANNEL  AND  STEER  TO  THE 
SOUTHWARD,  ON  ACCOUNT  OF    BEING   BADLY   ARMED,  AND    VERY    DEFICIENT  IN   t'AlI,S 
AND     RIGGING — ARRIVE    OFF   LISBON — DISMASTED    WHILE    IN  CHASE    OF  A    BRITISU 
PACKVT — TAKEN  BY  THE    OUANICUS    FRIGATE,  AND    TOWED    ROUND    TO  GIBRALTAR — 
PROCEED    IN    THE   ORANICUS  TO  TETUAN    BAY,    SIOROCCO— RETURN    TO    GIBRALTAR — 
REFUSAL  OF  THE   OOA'ERNOR  OP  THAT   PLACE  TO  PAROLE  CAPTAIN  AND  OFFICERS — EX- 
AMINATION AT  THE  ADMIRALTY  OFFICE- IvSCAPE  FROM  THE  GARRISON — GO  ON  BOARD 
A  NORWEGIAN  GALLIOT   -HUBBUB  AND  CONFUSION     IN    GIBRALTAR    TO  FIND  THE  CAP- 
TAIN  OP  THE  LEO — TAKE  PASSAGE  TO  ALGECIRAS  WITH   A  GANG  OF    SMl)GGLER.S — RE- 
SIDE WITH  THE  FAMILY  OF    THE    CAITAIN  OF  THE    GANG — AIDED  AND  PROTECTED  BY 
THE    AMERICAN    CONSUL,    HORATIO  SPRAOUE,  ESQ. — LEAVE   ALGECIRAS,  IN  DISGUISE, 
FOR  CADIZ— REMARKS  ON    THAT    REGION  OP    COUNTRY — ARRIVE  AT  CADU'. — KIND  RE- 
CEPTION AT    THAT    PLACE    BY    UIS   OLD  FRIENDS    AND   COUNTRYMEN— RESIDFJiCB    AT 
CADIZ — THEATRES   AND    BULL-FIGHTS— SAIL   FROM    CADIZ    FOR    LISBON   IN  A  PORTU- 
GUESE VESSEL 253 


DFJ3PERATE  BAT 
THE  BRITISH  ,>■ 
BRIG  LADY  1 
CHARLESTON  : 
TUREOKTHES 
FROM  THE  L0( 
PRIVATEER  Y 
BY  THE  «Hir 
AFTER  A  SUOl 
TURK  OF  THE 
OWEN  OLEND( 
PRIVATEER    C 

boyle's  BURI 
lawrence,  b' 

BALTIMORE  IN 
INDIES — THE 
PLOITS 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  PRIVATEER  YORK,  OP  BALTIMORE.  RETURNS  TO  THAT  PLACE  AFTER  A  SUCCF.SSFUL 
CRUISE  ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL,  AND  AMONG  THE  ISLANDS  IN  THE  WF.ST  INDIES  — 
TUE  PRIVATEER  PORTSMOUTH  CAPTURES  THE  SHIP  JAMES,  OF  LONDON — THE  JAMES  AR- 


CAPT/IN   REID's 
COPY  OF  A  LET 
STATE  AT  WASI 
THAT    PLACE- 
CONTINUATION 


CONTENTS. 


Xlll 


EIVEH  AT  T'OIlTSMOITir,  N.  II.  TIKMAIIKS  ON  miVATrKltS  IN*  NtlVKMMi;!!,  1H11 
A  OHKAT  MKKTINCJ  OK  MKUCIIANT.S  OK  M VK.Ili'OdI,  KXOI.AM).  ON  Till,  iUlI  OK  HKI'- 
TKMIIKil,  TO  I'KTITION  TllK.Ill  UOVKUNMKXT  TO  PUOTKlT  Tllh.M  AdAlNM'  AMDltlCAX 
PIUVATKK.ItS  TlIK  TIIUK-UI.OODKI)  YANKIIK,  I'IUVATKi;it,  HAII..S  niiiM  HIiixr,  (i\  IIIK 
24t||  ok  NOVKMHKIt,  1H14,  ON  A  CHUIHK  IN  TIIK  nillTISII  CIIANM;!,  ANKCDOTi;  Tu 
SUOW  TUB  8IUU1T  OK  TlIK  TIMJ^— ANKCDOTK  AliOLT  AN  AMKllIOAN  AM)  A  IIUITISII 
OFKICKU--CAITl'ltB  OK  TIIK  IIIUTISH  HIIll"  ANN  DOKOIIIKA,  SIONT  INTO  IlltSTON 
BYTHK  HARATOOA— CAPTIUK  OK  TllK  IIUIU  IIIKAM  IIY  TIIK  DAVID  I'OIiTKII,  OK  IIOSTON 
— AUIUVAIi  OF  TOE  URANU  TURK  AT  HALEM,  AtTER  A  SUCCKSSKUI-  ClIUISK— 8EVEI1E 
CONKMCT  BKTWKKN  THE  SALTY  JACK  AND  TWO  lUUTISlI  M;TTEII-0I'-MA111JI  K  Ulirs,  OKK 
ST.  DOMINOO  — HAIII)  KKJIIT,  AND  CAITritK  OK  SEVERAL  HUITIHII  MKIICII ANT.MEN,  IIV 
TIIK  KEMP,  I'RIVATEEU  OF  IIAI.TIMOIIE— CAITURE  OK  THE  KA8T  INDIA  SUII'  UENEIIAI. 
WIU-OUHIUIY  liY  TIIK  Y'ANKKE,  OIlDKltED  KOII  CIIAHI.RSTON  -CIlflSK  OK  THE  I'lll- 
VATEER  HARI'Y—IIER  CAI'TLUE  OK  THE  lilt ITI.SU  .SHIP  GARLAND— CAPTURE  OK  THE 
FA'atlSII  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  STAR,  BY  THE  SURPRISE 2!).'l 


CHAPTER    X. 


OF-SPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UXITKD  STATM  SHIP  HORNET,  CAPTAIN  BIDDLE,  AND 
THE  BRITISH  .SI.OOP-OK-WAR  PENGUIN — REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE -CAITUKE  OF  TIIK 
BRIG  LADY  TROWBRIDGE  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  INO,  OF  BOSTO.V — LOSS  OF  THE  INO  OFF 
CHARLESTON  BAR  — CAPIURE  OK  THE  SHIP  MARY  AND  SUSAN,  BY  THE  CHASSEUR — CAP- 
TURE OPTHE  SHIP  ADVENTURE  BY  THE  SAMK  VESSEL — SENT  INTO  CILVULESTOX— EXTRACT 
FKO.M  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  MC.  DONOUGII—IXTERiaTIXG  CRUISE  OK  THE 
PRIVATEER  YOUNG  WASP— CAPIURE  OK  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ARABELLA,  OK  CALCUTTA, 
BY  THE  SHIP  RAMBLER  OK  BOSTON— CAITUHE  OK  THE  PACKET-SHIP  ELIZABETH, 
AFTER  A  SHORT  BATTLE,  BY  THE  L^rTTEH-OF-MARQUE  JACOB  JOXra,  OK  BOSTON- CAP- 
TURE. OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HYDER-ALl,  IN  THE  EAST  INDIES,  BY  THE  BRITISH  FRIGATE 
OWEN  GLENDOWER- CAPTAIN  BOYLE's  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL,  IN  THE 
PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR — A  LIST  OK  PRIZES  MADE  BY  CAPTAIN  BOYLE— CAPTAIN 
BOYLE'S  burlesque  BLOCKADE — CAITURE  OK  HIS  BRITANNIC  .MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER  ST. 
LAWRENCE,  BY  CAITAIN  BOYXE,  IN  THE  CHA.SSEUll — ARRIVAL  OF  CAITAIN  BOYLE  AT 
BALTIMORE  IN  THE  PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR,  AFTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  IN  THE  WEST 
INDIES — THE  author's  ADMIRATION  OF  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  AND  UIS  GALLANT  EX- 
PLOITS     3ol 


CHAPTER    XI. 


CAPT>  IN  REID'S  cruise — ARRIVAL  AT  FATAL — ACCOUNT  OP  HIS  GALLANT  DEFENCE- 
COPY  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL  AT  FAYAL  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OH 
STATE  AT  WASHINGTON — CAPTAIN  REID's  ARRIVAL  AT  SAVANNAH — HIS  RECEPTION. A1 
THAT  PLACE — PUBLIC  DINNER  GIVEN  HIM  AT  RICHMOND,  VA. — TOASTS,  ETC. — 
CONTINUATION  OF  PRIZES    AFTER    TIIK   CONCLUSION   OF   PE.1CE— ESCAPE   OF  THE   PPI- 


MV 


CONTENTS. 


VATEKR-linif)  WAIIHIOR  KIIOM  A  DRiTlHir  Fill  fi  UK  AND  A  "  HKVKNTY-FOm  -SUK 
AUKIVKS  ATNKW  VOllK  -HKIO  TAOUS,  KKOM  HMVIINA,  (;AI'TUUKn  BY  THE  f,ETTER-OK- 
MAll(iUKIIlUTl',S,OI-'IIO«'ION  — HIUTIHU  I'ACKET  WINDSOR  CASTLK,  FROM  FAI.MOUTH,  ENO- 
r.ANI),  KOK  IIAI.IKa'x,  (;AI'TI!UKI>  IIY  the  UOOKK  and  SKNT  into  .VURKIII-K  -TRAXrtPORT- 
HIIII-  MOHKI.Y,  t'AI'TlIIlKI)  IIY  TIIK  LKTrKR-OK-MARlilK  RAMIII.EU,  AND  HENT  TO  BOaTON 
— BRITIHII  BRIO  BOL-RWAN,  FROM  PENANU,  WITH  A  VALUABLE  CARUO,  CAI'TUREI)  BY  TIIK 
JACOB  .lO.NKM,  AND  SKNT  lo  BOHTOV  EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  I'RIVATEER 
MC  DONOL'dll,  AT  MORLAIX,  FRANOE  -  FRIVATEERS  VREl'ARINO  FOR  SEA,  WHEN  THE 
NEWS  OF  I'EACB  ARRIVES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES il70 

CoNCLuniNO  Rkmarks,  &C" SO-t 

'I'rf^ty  oV  Peace 401 

Appendix 415 

Index 42'J 


MESS 


FRO 


The  injui 
from  the  fo] 


To  Ihe  Ser 

I  commui 
nation  of  th( 
affairs  with 

Without  [ 
in  which  G 
wrongs  of  ii 
presents  a  s€ 
pendent  and 

British  or 
lating  tlie  A 
of  seizing  ai 
exercise  of 
against  an  ( 
subjects,  B 
in  a  situatioi 
and  the  hiw£ 
self-redress  : 
fully  detaine 
for  a  resort  t 


MESSAGE    OF     THE    PRESIDENT. 


FROM  THE  NATIONAL  INTELLIGENCER  EXTRA. 


4  o'clock  P.M.,  June  18,  1812. 
The  injunction  of  secrecy  was  about  an  hour  ago  removed 
from  the  following  message,  report  or  manifesto,  and  act. 


To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represenlatives  of  the  United  States : 

I  communicate  to  Congress  certain  documents,  being  a  contin- 
uation of  those  heretofore  laid  before  them,  on  the  subject  of  o\ii" 
affairs  with  Great  Britain. 

Without  going  back  beyond  the  renewal  in  1803,  of  the  war 
in  which  Great  Britain  is  engaged,  and  omitting  unrepaired 
wrongs  of  inferior  magnitude,  the  conduct  of  her  government 
presents  a  series  of  acts  hostile  to  the  United  States  as  an  inde- 
pendent and  neutral  nation. 

British  cruisers  liave  been  in  the  continued  practice  of  vio- 
lating the  American  flag  on  the  great  high  way  of  nations,  and 
of  seizing  and  carrying  off  persons  sailing  under  it ;  not  in  the 
exercise  of  a  belligerent  right,  founded  on  the  law  of  nations 
against  an  enemy,  but  of  a  municipal  prerogative  over  British 
subjects.  British  jurisdiction  is  thus  extended  to  neutral  vessels 
in  a  situation  where  no  laws  can  operate  but  the  law  of  nations 
and  the  laws  of  the  country  to  Avhich  the  vessels  belong ;  and  a 
self-redress  is  assumed  which,  if  British  subjects  were  wrong- 
fully detained  and  alone  concerned,  is  that  substitution  of  force, 
for  a  resort  to  the  responsible  sovereign,  which  falls  within  the 

Cxv) 


XVI 


MESSAGE. 


definition  of  war.  Could  the  seizure  of  Britisli  subjects  in  such 
cases  be  regarded  as  within  tlie  exercise  of  u  belligerent  riglit, 
the  acknowledged  laws  of  war,  which  fcjrljid  an  article  of  cap- 
tured property  to  be  adjudged  without  a  regular  investigation 
before  a  competent  tribunal,  Avould  inii)enou.sly  demand  tlic  fair- 
est trial  where  the  sacred  rights  of  persons  were  at  issue.  In 
place  of  such  a  trial,  these  rights  are  subjected  to  the  will  of  every 
petty  commander. 

The  practice,  hence,  is  so  far  from  affecting  Biitish  subjects 
alone,  that,  under  the  })retext  of  searching  for  these,  thousands 
of  American  citizens,  under  the  safeguard  of  public  law,  and  of 
their  uatiorial  flag,  have  been  torn  from  their  country  and  from 
every  thing  dear  to  them ;  have  been  dragged  on  board  ships  of 
war  of  a  foreign  nation,  and  exposed,  under  the  severities  of 
their  discipline,  to  be  exiled  to  the  most  distant  and  deadly 
climes,  to  risk  their  lives  in  the  battles  of  their  oppressors,  and 
to  be  the  melancholy  instruments  of  taking  aAvay  those  of  their 
own  brethren. 

Against  this  crying  enormity,  which  Great  Britain  would  be 
so  prompt  to  avenge  if  committed  against  herself,  the  United 
States  have  in  vain  exhausted  remonstrances  and  expostula- 
tions. And  that  no  proof  might  be  wanting  of  their  concilia- 
tory dispositions,  and  no  pretext  left  for  a  continuance  of  the 
practice,  the  British  government  was  formally  assured  of  the 
readiness  of  the  United  States  to  enter  into  arrangements,  such 
as  could  not  be  rejected,  if  the  recovery  of  British  subjects  were 
the  real  and  sole  object.  The  communication  passed  without 
effect. 

British  cruisers  have  been  in  the  practice  also  of  violating  the 
rights  and  the  peace  of  our  coasts.  They  hover  over  and  ha- 
rass our  entering  and  departing  commerce.  To  the  most  insult- 
ing pretensions,  they  have  added  the  most  lawless  jiroceedings 
in  our  very  harbors ;  and  have  wantonly  spilt  American  blood 
within  the  sanctuary  of  our  territorial  jurisdiction.     The  princi- 


ples and  rul 
against  anni 
and  disturlti 
on,  nevertht 
offences  com 
stowed  on  th 
fidence. 

Under  pre 

quate  force,  a 

one,  our  con 

staples  of  ou 

markets;  an* 

maritime  inf( 

they  have  be 

tifieation ;  a  i 

done  in  othci 

pursued.  An 

blockades  ha 

communicati( 

true  defmitio 

actually  inve 

to  them,  not 

K  )t  center 

our  neutral  ti 

to  the  sweepi 

council,  whic 

its  political  v 

Britisli  cruise 

To  our  ren 

ent  injustice 

ders  were  rel 

retaliation  on 

ade  of  the  Bj 

enemy  dared 


MESSAGE. 


XVI 1 


pies  and  rules  enforced  by  tlint  nation,  when  a  neutral  nation, 
against  armed  vessels  of  belligerents  liovt-ring  near  licr  coasts, 
and  disturbing  her  commerce,  arc  well  known.  When  ealK-d 
on,  nevertheless,  by  the  United  States  to  punish  the  greater 
offences  committed  by  her  own  vessels,  her  government  has  be- 
stowed  on  their  commanders  additional  marks  of  honor  and  con- 
fidence. 

Under  pretiMided  blockades,  without  the  presence  of  an  ade- 
quate force,  and  sonK^times  without  the  practicability  of  applying 
one,  our  commerce  has  been  plundered  in  every  si'a ;  the  great 
staples  of  our  country  have  been  cut  off  from  their  legitimate 
markets ;  and  a  destructive  bh)W  aimed  at  our  agricidtural  and 
maritime  interests.  In  aggravation  of  these  predatory  measures, 
they  have  been  considered  as  in  force  from  the  dates  of  their  no- 
tification; a  retrospective  elfect  being  thus  added,  as  has  been 
done  in  other  important  cases,  to  the  unlawfulness  of  the  course 
pursued.  And  to  render  the  outrage  the  more  signal,  these  mock 
blockades  have  been  reiterated  and  enforced  in  the  face  of  oflicial 
communications  from  the  British  govcrmnent,  declaring,  as  the 
true  definition  of  a  legal  blockade  "that  particular  ports  must  be 
actually  invested,  and  previous  warning  given  to  vessels  bound 
to  them,  not  to  enter." 

Not  content  witli  these  occasional  expedients  for  laying  Avaste 
our  neutral  trade,  the  cabinet  of  Great  Britain  resorted,  at  length, 
to  the  sweeping  system  of  blockades,  under  the  name  of  orders  in 
council,  which  has  been  moulded  and  managed  as  might  best  suit 
its  political  views,  its  commercial  jealousies,  or  the  avidity  of 
British  cruisers. 

To  our  remonstrances  against  the  complicated  and  transcend- 
ent injustice  of  this  innovation,  the  first  reply  Avas,  that  the  or- 
ders were  reluctantly  adopted  by  Great  Britain  as  a  necessary 
retaliation  on  decrees  of  her  enemy  proclaiming  a  general  block- 
ade of  the  British  Isles,  at  a  time  Avhen  the  naval  force  of  that 
enemy  dared  not  to  issue  from  his  own  ports.     She  was  re- 


xvm 


MESSAGE. 


minded,  williout  eH'ccf,  lliut  lu  r  own  jirior  bldckudcs,  uiiHup- 
ported  by  nn  adequate  naval  f'orec,  aclually  uj)plied  and  contin- 
ued, were  a  bur  to  tlii.s  plea;  that  exeeiited  edicts  against  mil- 
lions of  our  property  could  not  be  retaliation  on  edicts,  confes- 
sedly impossible  to  be  executed;  that  retaliation,  to  be  just, 
should  fail  on  the  party  setting  the  guilty  example,  not  on  an  in- 
nocent party,  \vhi(;h  Avas  not  even  chargeable  with  an  acquies- 
cence in  it. 

When  dejjrived  of  this  flimsy  veil  for  a  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  her  enemy,  by  the  rejjcal  of  his  prohibition  of  our 
trade  with  Great  liritain,  her  cabinet,  instead  of  a  corresponding 
repeal,  or  a  practical  discontinuance  of  its  orders,  formally 
avowed  a  determination  to  persist  in  them  against  the  United 
States,  until  the  markets  of  her  enemy  should  be  laid  open  to 
British  products;  thus  asserting  an  obligation  on  a  neutral 
power  to  require  one  belligerent  to  encourage,  by  its  internal 
regulations,  the  trade  of  another  belligerent;  contradicting  her 
own  practice  towards  .^11  nations,  in  peace  as  well  as  in  war; 
and  betraying  the  insiiujcrity  of  those  j)rofcssions  which  in- 
culcated a  belief  that,  having  resorted  to  her  orders  with  re- 
gret, slie  was  anxious  to  find  an  occasion  for  putting  an  end  to 
thern. 

Abandoning  still  more  all  respect  for  the  neutral  rights  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  its  own  consistency,  the  British  govern- 
ment now  demands,  as  pre-rcquisites  to  a  repeal  of  its  orders  as 
they  relate  to  the  United  States,  that  a  formality  should  be  ob- 
served in  the  repeal  of  the  French  decrees,  nowise  necessary  to 
their  termination,  nor  exemplified  by  British  usage ;  and  that  the 
French  repeal,  besides  including  that  portion  of  the  decrees 
which  operates  within  a  territorial  jurisdiction,  as  well  as  that 
which  operates  on  the  high  seas  against  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States,  should  not  be  a  single  special  repeal  in  relation 
to  the  United  States,  but  should  be  extended  to  whatever  other 
neutral  nations  unconnected  with  them,  may  be  affected  by 


those  docr(H' 
for  a  formal 
by  the  Fren^ 
far  fiom  hav 
planations,  w 
ixjspondenco 
ish  minister 
plicitly  and 

It  has  be( 
of  the  Unit( 
the  belligere 
wants  of  he 
tcrfering  wit 
oommcrce  a\ 
lawful  comn 
on  a  couunc 
are,  for  the 
ceed. 

Anxious  t( 
injured  natic 
Britain,  undc 
tercourse  wit 
weigh  the  pr 
with  other  i 
more  favorat 
her  to  place 
them.  To  tl 
flexible,  as  if 
yield  to  the 
pride.  Nay, 
attachment  o 
ceived  every 
ecutive  brant 
them  would 


Ml^aSAOE. 


XIX 


those  dccroi'S.  And,  as  nn  additioiwil  insult,  tlioy  arc  cal!(Ml  on 
for  a  formal  disavowal  of  conditions  and  pretensions  advanced 
l»y  tlio  French  governinont,  for  which  the  United  States  are  so 
/'ar  from  havinj.^  tnado  themselves  responsible,  that,  in  official  ex- 
planations, wliich  have  h(>en  published  to  the  world,  and  inacor- 
ix'spondcnee  of  the  American  minister  at  London  with  the  Brit- 
ish minister  for  foreign  affairs,  such  a  responsibility  was  ex- 
plicitly and  emphatically  disclaimed. 

It  has  become,  indeed,  snfhciently  certain  that  the  commerce 
of  the  United  States  is  to  be  sacrificed,  not  as  interfering  witu 
the  belligerent  rights  of  Great  Britain,  not  as  supplying  the 
wants  of  her  en(>mies,  wliich  she  herself  supplies,  but  as  in- 
terfering with  the  monopoly  which  she  covets  for  licr  own 
commerce  and  navigation.  She  carries  on  a  war  against  the 
lawful  commerce  of  a  friend,  that  she  may  the  better  cany 
on  a  coimnercc  jwUuted  by  tlu'  forgeries  and  perjuries  which 
are,  for  the  most  part,  the  only  passports  by  which  it  can  suc- 
ceed. 

Anxious  to  make  every  experiment  short  of  the  last  resort  of 
injured  nations,  the  United  States  have  withheld  from  Great 
Britain,  under  successive  modifications,  the  benefits  of  a  free  in- 
tercourse with  their  market,  the  loss  of  which  could  not  but  out- 
weigh the  profits  accruing  from  her  restrictions  of  our  commerce 
with  other  nations.  And  to  entitle  these  experiments  to  the 
more  favorable  consideration,  they  Avere  so  framed  as  to  enable 
her  to  place  her  adversary  under  the  exclusive  operation  of 
them.  To  these  appeals  her  government  has  been  equally  in- 
flexible, as  if  willing  to  make  sacrifices  of  every  sort,  rather  than 
yield  to  the  claims  of  justice,  or  renounce  the  errors  of  a  false 
pride.  Nay,  so  far  were  the  attempts  carried,  to  overcome  the 
attachment  of  the  British  cabinet  to  its  unjust  edicts,  that  it  re- 
ceived every  encouragement  within  the  competency  of  the  ex- 
ecutive branch  of  our  government,  to  expect  that  a  repeal  of 
them  would  be  followed  by  a  war  between  the  United  States 


MKS.SAOE. 


aixl  Kriincc,  unices  tlf  FicihIi  odicts  .slioiild  nlso  he,  ro- 
ponied.  Kvi'ii  tliin  (•Diiiiinmicatioii,  altlioiigli  silencing  forever 
the  plea  of  n  diMpositioii  in  the  United  States  to  iicquiefce  in 
those  edicts,  origiiudly  tlic  sole  pica  for  them,  received  no  at- 
tention. 

If  no  other  proof  existed  of  a  predetermination  of  the  l^ritisli 
government  against  a  re])eal  of  its  orders,  it  might  Ix!  fonml  on 
th(>  correspondence  of  the  Minister  PJenipotcJitiary  of  the  United 
States  at  London,  and  tlie  Britisli  Seeretiiry  for  Foreign  Affairs 
in  ISIO,  on  the  question  whetlu'r  the  hlockade  of  May,  1H06, 
was  considered  as  in  force  or  as  not  in  force.     It  had  heen  ascer- 
tained that  the  French  government,  which   urged  this  hlockade 
as  the  ground  of  its  Berlin  decree,  was  willing,  in  the  event  of 
its  removal,  to  repeal   that  decree;  which,  hcing   followed   by 
alternate  repeals  of  the  other  offensive  edicts,  might  abolish  the 
Avhole   system   on   both  sides.     Tliis  inviting   opportunity  for 
accomplishing  an  object  so  important  to  the  United  States,  and 
professed  so  often  to  be  the  desire  of  botli  the  belligerents,  was 
made  known  to  the  British  government.     As  that  government 
admits  that  an  actual  ajiplieation  of  an  adequate  force  is  neces- 
sary to  the  existence  of  a  legal  blockade,  and  it  was  notorious, 
that  if  such  a  force  had  ever  been  applied,  its  long  discontinu- 
ance had  annulled  the  blockade  in  question,  there  could  be  no 
sufTicient  objection  on  the  ])art  of  Great  Britain  to  a  formal  re- 
vocation of  it;  and  no  imaginable  objection,  to  a  declaration  of 
the  fact,  that  the  blockade  did  not  exist.     The  declaration  would 
have  been  consistent  with  her  avowed  principles  of  blockade, 
and  would  have  enabled  the  United  States  to  demand  from 
France  the  pledged  repeal  of  her  decrees ;  either  with  success, 
in  Avhich  case  the  way  would  have  been  opened  for  a  general 
repeal  of  the  belligerent  edicts ;  or,  without  success,  in  Avhich 
case  the  United  States  would  have  been  justified  in  turning  their 
measures  exclusivel}^  against  France.     The  British  government 
would,  however,  neither  rescind  the  blockade   nor  declare  its 


non-(>xisten 
afRrmed  \)y 
represcntin; 
council,  the 
subsequent 
There  wi 
the  Britisli 
Minister  IM( 
an  adjustmc 
the  harnion' 
with  a  proir 
riable  profe? 
to  be  laifl  f!) 
however,  qu 
vowed  by    i 
which  conic 
proceeded  fr 
prosj)erity  f 
proof,  that,  ! 
holding  the 
the  sincerity 
crct  agent  of 
for  their  obj 
bermentof  o 
In  revie\\ 
States  our  at 
ncwed  by  th 
fare  which  i- 
tinguished  1 
difficult   to 
have  for    S( 
tribes  in  the 
sons,  withon 
without  reco 


MKSaAGK. 


XXI 


noii-cxistcnco ;  nor  |»(>niiit  itn  non-existence  to  be  Inrcircd  iitkI 
fifiirnicil  \)y  the  AiiuMi(!:iii  INciiiiiotcntiarv.  On  the  contniry,  l)y 
rcprcsciitiiij^  tlio  Itlockiuli'  to  Ik;  ('oinprehenrlcfl  in  the  orders  in 
couneil,  the  United  States  were  compelled  ho  tori'gard  it  intlieir 
Huhseqnout  proeeedin^H. 

There  was  a  period  when  a  favorable  change  in  the  poliev  of 
tlio  Hriti^h  cfibinet  \vnn  justly  eonsiden-d  us  esta))Iished.  ^Pho 
Minister  IMenipotrntiary  of  his  Hritannie  Majesty  hero  proposed 
an  adjustment  of  the  dill'erenees  more  immediately  endangering 
the  harmony  of  the  two  countries.  The  proposition  was  aeciepted 
with  a  promptitude  and  cordiality  corresponding  with  tin*  inva- 
riahle  professions  of  this  government.  A  foundation  a))peare(l 
to  1)C  laiil  for  a  sincere  and  lasting  reconciliation.  The  prospect, 
however,  quickly  vanished.  The  whole  proceeding  was  (hsa- 
vowcd  hy  the  British  govertmient  without  any  explanations 
Avhich  could  at  that  time  r(.>i)ress  the  belief,  that  the  disavowal 
proceeded  from  a  spirit  of  hostility  to  the  conunercial  rights  and 
prosperity  of  the  United  States.  And  it  has  since  come  into 
proof,  that,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  public  minister  was 
liohhng  the  languiige  of  friendship,  and  insi)i''ing  confidence  in 
thc.«?incerity  of  the  negociation  with  which  lie  was  charg<>d.  a  se- 
cret agent  of  his  government  was  employed  in  intrigues,  having 
for  their  object  a  subversion  of  our  government,  and  a  dismem- 
berment of  our  happy  union. 

In  reviewing  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towards  the  United 
States  our  attention  is  necessarily  drawn  to  the  warfare  just  re 
newcd  by  tlic  savages  on  one  of  our  extensive  frontiers  ;  a  war- 
fare which  is  known  to  spare  neither  age  nor  sex,  and  to  bo  (hs- 
tinguished  by  features  peculiarly  shocking  to  humanity.  It  is 
difficult  to  account  for  the  activity  and  combinations  which 
have  for  some  time  been  developing  themselves  among 
tribes  in  the  constant  intercourse  with  British  traders  and  garri- 
sons, without  connecting  their  hostility  with  that  influence ;  and 
without  recollecting  the  authenticated  examples  of  such  interpo- 


xxu 


MESSAGE. 


sitions  heretofore  fumished  hy  the  officers  and  agents  of  that  go- 
vernment. 

Such  is  the  spectacle  of  injuries  and  indignities  which  have 
been  heaped  on  our  country  :  and  such  the  crisis  -which  its  un- 
exampled forbearance  and  conciliatory  efforts  have  not  been  able 
to  avert.  It  might  at  least  have  been  expected  that  an  enlight- 
ened nation,  if  less  urged  by  moral  obligations,  or  invited  by 
friendly  disposiliDiis  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  -would  have 
found,  in  its  true  interest  alone,  a  sufficient  motive  to  respect 
their  rights  and  their  tranquillity  on  the  high  seas  ;  that  an  en- 
larged policy  would  luive  favored  that  free  and  general  circula- 
tion of  commerce,  in  Avhich  the  British  nation  is  at  all  times 
interested,  and  -which  in  times  of  war  is  the  best  alleviation  of  its 
calamities  to  herself  as  well  as  the  other  belligerents ;  and  more 
especially  that  tlic  British  cabinet  would  not,  for  the  sake  of  the 
precarious  and  surreptitious  intercourse  with  hostile  markets, 
have  persevered  in  a  course  of  measures  which  necessarily  put  at 
hazard  the  invaluable  market  of  a  great  and  growing  country, 
disposed  to  cultivate  the  mutual  advantages  of  an  active  commerce. 

Other  councils  have  prevailed.  Our  moderation  and  concilia- 
tion liave  had  no  other  effi?ct  than  to  encourage  pierseverance, 
and  to  enlarge  pretensions.  We  behold  our  seafaring  citizens 
still  the  daily  victims  of  lawless  violence,  committed  on  the  great 
common  and  highway  of  nations,  even  within  sight  of  the  coun- 
try Avhich  owes  them  protection.  We  behold  our  vessels  freight- 
ed with  the  products  of  our  soil  and  industry,  or  returning  with 
the  honest  proceeds  of  them,  wrested  from  their  lawful  destina- 
tions, confiscated  by  prize  courts,  no  longer  the  organs  of  public 
law,  but  the  instruments  of  arbitrary  edicts ;  and  their  unfortu- 
nate crews  dispersed  and  lost,  or  forced  or  inveigled,  in  British 
ports,  into  British  fleets :  whilst  arguments  are  employed  in  sup- 
port of  these  aggressions,  which  have  no  foundation  but  in  a 
principle  equally  supporting  a  claim  to  regulate  our  external 
commerce  in  all  cases  -whatsoever. 


We  beho 

against  the 

a  statf  ^  f  pe 

Whether 

progressive 

posing  force 

mit  ajdst  e 

events,  avoi 

contests  or  ^ 

(liness  to  eo: 

friendship,  i 

confides  to  t 

commending 

assurance    t 

and  patrioti( 

Having  j; 

States  Avith  ' 

out  of  them 

made  to  Con 

have  shown 

lated  the  ne 

has  authoriz 

and  that  oth 

our  citizens 

had  been  pi 

spoliations  c 

of  the  Frenc 

seized  wdthii 

from  recomi 

measures  wi 

result  of  unc 

tiary  at  Pari 

Congress  to 

the  rights,  tl 

Washmgk 


MESSAGE. 


XXlll 


We  behold,  in  fine,  on  the  side  of  Groat  Britain  a  state  of  war 
against  the  United  States  ;  and  on  the  side  of  the  United  States 
a  state  I  f  peace  towards  Great  Britain. 

Whether  tlie  United  States  shall  continue  passive  under  these 
progressive  usurpations,  and  these  accumulating  wrongs ;  or,  op- 
posing force  to  force  in  defence  of  their  natural  rights,  shall  com- 
mit a  just  cause  into  the  hands  of  the  Almighty  Disposer  of 
events,  avoiding  all  connections  which  might  entangle  it  in  the 
contests  or  views  of  other  powers,  and  preserving  a  constant  rea- 
diness to  concur  in  an  honorable  re-establishment  of  peace  and 
friendship,  is  a  solemn  question,  which  the  constitution  wisely 
confides  to  the  legislative  department  of  the  go\rernmcnt.  In  re- 
commending it  to  their  early  deliberations,  I  am  happy  in  the 
assurance  that  the  decision  will  be  worthy  the  enlightened 
and  patriotic  councils  of  a  virtuous,  a  free,  and  a  powerful  nation. 

Having  presented  this  view  of  the  relations  of  the  United 
States  with  Great  Britain  and  of  the  solemn  alternative  growing 
out  of  them,  I  proceed  to  remark  that  the  communications  last 
made  to  Congress  on  the  subject  of  our  relations  with  France  will 
have  shown  that  since  the  revocation  of  her  decrees  as  they  vio- 
lated the  neutral  rights  of  the  United  States,  her  government 
has  authorized  illegal  captures,  by  its  j'rivateersand  public  ships, 
and  that  other  outrages  have  been  practised  on  our  vessels  and 
our  citizens.  It  will  have  been  seen  also,  that  no  indemnity 
had  been  provided,  or  satisfactorily  pledged  for  the  extensive 
spoliations  committed  under  the  violent  and  retrospective  orders 
of  the  French  government  against  the  property  of  our  citizens 
seized  within  the  jurisdiction  of  France.  I  abstain  at  this  time 
from  recommending  to  the  consideration  of  Congress  definitive 
measures  with  respect  to  that  nation,  in  the  expectation  that  tlie 
i-esult  of  unclosed  discussions  between  our  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary at  Paris  and  the  French  government,  will  speedily  enable 
Congress  to  decide,  with  greater  advantage,  on  the  course  due  to 
the  rights,  the  interests,  and  the  honor  of  our  country. 

Washi7igton  June  1, 1S12.      •  JAMES    MADISON. 


THE  COMMITTEE  ON  FOREIGN  RELATIONS, 

TO  WHOM  WAS  REFERRKD  THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT    OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

OF   THE    1  ST  OP   JUNE,  1812 

KEPOET— 

That  after  the  experience  which  the  United  States  have 
liad  of  the  great  injustice  of  the  British  government  towards 
them,  exeni])Hfied  by  so  many  acts  of  violence  and  oppression,  it 
Avill  be  more  difficult  to  justify  to  the  impartial  world  their 
patient  forbearance,  than  the  measures  to  which  it  has  become 
necessary  to  resort,  to  avenge  the  wrongs,  and  vindicate  the 
rights  r-nd  honor  of  the  nation.  Your  committee  are  happy  to 
observe,  on  a  dispassionate  view  of  the  conduct  of  the  United 
States,  that  they  see  in  it  no  cause  for  censure. 

If  a  long  forbearance  under  injuries  ought  ever  to  be  consi- 
dered a  virtue  in  any  nation,  it  is  one  which  peculiarly  becomes 
the  United  States.  No  people  ever  had  stronger  motives  to 
cherish  peace  :  none  have  ever  cherished  it  with  greater  sincerity 
and  zeal. 

But  the  period.has  now  arrived,  when  the  United  States  must 
support  their  character  and  station  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  or  submit  to  the  most  shameful  degradation.  Forbearance 
has  ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  War  on  the  one  side,  and  peace  on 
the  other,  is  a  situation  as  ruinous  as  it  is  disgraceful.  The  mad 
ambition,  the  lust  of  power,  and  commercial  avarice  of  Great 
Britain,  arrogating  to  herself  the  complete  dominion  of  the 
ocean,  and  exercising  over  it  an  unbounded  and  lawless  tyranny, 
have  left  to  neutral  nations  an  alternative  only,  between  the 
xxiv 


bare  surrcndc 

Happily  for  t 

Heaven,   is  ii 

by  their  love 

quish  that  sit 

wrongs,  they 

they  cannot  o 

^Nfore  than  i 

of  this  system 

on  the  rights 

of  its  commei 

which  it  has  1 

ably  done  eve 

friendship  wit 

distinguished 

victims  of  an  - 

not  been  forj 

They  warned 

vide.     As  eai 

States  at  Lon 

ment  to  enter 

lision  might  a 

war,  and  to  p: 

and  reason  ab 

ncgociation  h 

had  occurred 

satisfaction  of 

these  circums 

important  bra 

part  of  the  U 

in  ruin. 

The  comm 
made,  w^as  be 
Spain,  and  ot 


REPORT. 


XXV 


bare  surrender  of  their  rights,  and  a  manl}^  vindication  of  tlicni. 
Ilappily  for  the  United  States,  their  destiny,  under  the  aid  of 
Heaven,  is  in  their  own  hands.  The  crisis  is  foi  inidiible  only 
by  their  love  of  peace.  As  soon  as  it  becomes  a  dnty  to  relin- 
quish that  situation,  danger  disappears.  They  have  suffered  no 
wrongs,  they  have  received  no  insults,  however  great,  for  which 
they  cannot  obtain  redress. 

;More  than  seven  years  have  elapsed,  since  the  commencement 
of  tl lis  system  of  hostile  aggression  by  the  British  Government, 
on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United  States.  The  manner 
of  its  commencement  Avas  not  less  hostile,  than  the  spirit  with 
which  it  has  been  prosecuted.  The  United  States  have  invari- 
ably done  every  thirig  in  their  power  to  preserve  the  relations  of 
friendship  Avith  Great  Britain.  Of  this  disposition  they  gave  a 
distinguished  proof,  at  the  moment  when  they  were  made  the 
victims  of  an  02:)posite  policy.  The  wrongs  of  the  last  war  ha<l 
not  been  forgotten  at  the  conimenceraent  of  the  present  one. 
They  warned  us  of  dangers,  against  which  it  was  sought  to  pro 
vide.  As  early  as  the  year  1804,  the  Minister  of  the  United 
States  at  London  was  instructed,  to  invite  the  British  govern- 
ment to  enter  into  a  negociation  on  all  the  points  on  which  a  col- 
lision might  arise  between  the  two  countries,  in  the  course  of  the 
war,  and  to  propose  to  it  an  arrangement  of  their  claims  on  fair 
and  reasonable  conditions.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  A 
negociation  had  commenced  and  was  depending,  and  nothing 
had  occurred  to  excite  a  doubt  that  it  would  not  terminate  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  the  parties.  It  was  at  this  time,  and  under 
these  circumstances,  that  an  attack  Avas  made,  by  surprise,  on  an 
important  branch  of  the  American  commerce,  which  affected  every 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  involved  many  of  their  citizens 
in  ruin. 

The  commerce  on  which  this  attack  was  so  unexpectedly 
made,  was  between  the  United  States  and  the  colonies  of  France, 
Spain,  and  other  enemies  of  Great  Britain.     A  commerce  just  in 


XXVI 


REPORT. 


itself;  sanctioned  by  tlie  example  of  Great  Britriiu  in  regard  to 
tlic  trade  with  her  own  colonies ;  sanctioned  by  a  solemn  act  be- 
tween the  two  governments  in  the  last  war ;  and  sanctioned  by 
the  practice  of  the  British  government  in  the  present  war,  more 
than  two  years  having  elapsed,  without  any  interference 
with  it. 

The  injustice  of  this  attack  could  only  be  equalled  by  the  ab- 
surdity of  the  i^retext  alleged  for  it.  It  was  pretended  by  the 
British  government,  that  in  case  of  war,  her  enemy  had  no  right 
to  modify  its  colonial  regulations,  so  as  to  mitigate  the  calamities 
of  war  to  the  inhal,>itants  of  its  colonies.  This  pretension  pecu- 
liar to  Great  Britain,  is  utterly  incompatible  with  the  rights  of 
the  sovereignty  in  every  independent  State.  If  we  recur  to  the 
well-establislied  and  universally  admitted  law  of  nations,  we  shall 
find  no  sanction  to  it,  in  that  venerable  code.  The  sovereignty 
of  every  State  is  co-extensive  with  its  dominions,  and  canjiot  be 
abrogated,  or  curtailed  in  rights,  as  to  any  part,  except  by  con- 
quest. Neutral  nations  have  a  right  to  trade  to  every  port  of 
either  belligerent,  which  is  not  legally  blockaded ;  and  in  all 
articles  which  are  not  contraband  of  war.  Such  is  the  absurdity 
of  this  pretension,  that  your  committee  are  aware,  especially 
after  the  able  manner  in  which  it  has  been  heretofore  refuted, 
and  exposed,  that  they  would  offer  an  insult  to  the  understand- 
ing of  the  house,  if  they  enlarged  on  it,  and  if  any  thing  could 
add  to  the  high  sense  of  the  injustice  of  the  British  government 
in  the  transaction,  it  would  be  the  contrast  which  her  conduct 
exhibits  in  regard  to  this  trade,  and  in  regard  to  a  similar  trade 
by  neutrals  with  her  own  colonies.  It  is  known  to  the  world 
that  Great  Britain  regulates  her  own  trade  in  war  and  in  peace, 
at  home  and  in  her  colonies,  as  she  finds  for  her  interest — that  in 
wax  she  relaxes  the  restraints  of  her  colonial  system  in  favor  of 
the  colonies,  and  that  it  never  was  suggested  that  she  had  not  a 
right  to  do  it ;  or  that  a  neutral  in  taking  advantage  of  the  re- 
laxation violated  a  belligerent  right  of  her  enemy.     But  with 


Great  Britai 
her  enemies  1 
all  trade  is  u 
In  the  yea 
ment  on  the  i 
involved  the 
was  nmieablji 
and  ri'j)aratie 
they  had  sufi 
ment  that  th 
ment  lawful. 
Had  the  Bi 
with  neutrals, 
that  the  decis 
the  United  Si 
been  invited  1 
differences  by 
tensions,  gave 
the  fairest  of 
mated  the  the 
friendly  overt 
to  ensnare  the 
to  this  countr 
to  the  momen 
our  interests, 
many  strong 
zens,  with  the 
it  a  vast  prop^ 
were  at  sea,  u 
and  the  confi( 
ship  of  the  B 
was  given.     ] 
and  condemn 
the  law  of  nat 


REPORT. 


XXVll 


Great  Britain  every  thing  is  lawful.  It  is  only  in  a  trade  with 
her  cncmicH  that  the  United  States  ean  do  Avrong.  With  them 
all  trade  is  unlawful.  * 

In  the  year  1703,  an  attack  was  made  by  tlie  British  govern- 
ment on  the  same  branch  of  our  neutral  trade,  which  had  nearly 
involved  the  two  countries  in  a  war.  T})at  dift'erencc,  however, 
was  amicably  accommodated.  The  pretension  was  withdrawn 
and  reparation  made  to  the  United  States  for  the  losses  which 
they  had  suffered  by  it.  It  was  fair  to  infer  from  that  arrange- 
ment that  the  commerce  was  deemed  by  tlie  Britisli  Govern 
ment  lawful,  and  that  it  would  not  be  again  disturbed. 

Had  the  British  government  been  resolved  to  contest  this  trade 
with  neutrals,  it  was  due  to  the  character  of  the  British  nation 
that  the  decision  should  be  made  known  to  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  The  existence  of  a  negociation  which  had 
been  invited  by  our  government,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
differences  by  an  amicable  arrangement  of  their  respective  pre- 
tensions, gave  a  strong  claim  to  the  notification,  while  it  afforded 
the  fairest  opportunity  for  it.  But  a  very  different  policy  ani- 
mated the  then  Cabinet  of  England.  The  liberal  confidence  and 
friendly  overtures  of  the  United  States  were  taken  advantage  of 
to  ensnare  them.  Steady  to  its  purpose  and  inflexibly  liostile 
to  this  country,  the  British  government  calmly  looked  forward 
to  the  moment,  when  it  might  give  the  most  deadly  wound  to 
our  interests.  A  trade  just  in  itself,  which  was  secured  by  so 
many  strong  and  sacred  pledges,  was  considered  safe.  Our  citi- 
zens, with  their  usual  industry  and  enterprise  had  emfearked  in 
it  a  vast  proportion  of  their  shipping,  and  of  theit  capital,  which 
were  at  sea,  under  no  other  protection  than  the  law  of  nations, 
and  the  confidence  which  they  reposed  in  the  justice  and  friend- 
ship of  the  British  nation.  At  this  period  the  unexpected  blow 
was  given.  Many  of  the  vessels  were  seized,  carried  into  port, 
and  condemned  by  a  tribunal,  which,  while  it  professes  to  respect 
the  law  of  nations,  obeyed  the  mandates  of  its  own  government. 


XXVIU 


REPORT. 


nundrcda  of  other  vchscIs  were  driven  from  the  ocean,  and  the 
trade  itself  in  a  great  measure  .suppressed.  The  effect  produced 
by  this  attack  on  the  lawful  connneree  of  the  United  States  was 
such  as  might  have  been  expected  from  a  virtuous,  independent 
and  highly  injured  people.  But  one  sentiment  pervaded  the 
whole  American  nation.  No  local  interests  were  regarded ;  no 
sordid  motives  felt.  Without  looking  to  the  parts  which  suffered 
most,  the  invasion  of  our  rights  Avas  considered  a  common  cause, 
and  from  one  extremity  of  our  Union  to  the  other,  was  heard  the 
voice  of  an  united  people,  calling  on  their  government  to  avenge 
their  WTongs,  and  vindicate  the  rights  and  honor  of  their 
country. 

From  this  period  the  British  government  has  gone  on  in  a 
continued  encroachment  on  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United 
States,  disregarding  in  its  course,  in  many  instances,   obliga- 
tions which  have  heretofore  been  held  sacred  by  civilized  na 
tions. 

In  Maj'',  1806,  the  whole  coast  of  the  Continent,  from  the  Elbe 
to  Brest  inclusive,  was  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade. 
By  this  act,  the  well-established  principles  of  the  law  of  nations, 
principles  which  have  served  for  ages  as  guides,  and  affixed  the 
boundary  between  the  rights  to  belligerents  and  neutrals,  wero 
violated :  By  the  law  of  nations,  as  recognized  by  Great  Britain 
herself,  no  blockade  is  lawful,  unless  it  be  sustained  by  the  ap- 
plication of  an  adequate  force,  and  that  an  adequate  force  was 
applied  to  this  blockade,  in  its  full  extent,  ought  not  to  be  pre- 
tended. Whether  Great  Britain  was  able  to  maintain,  legally, 
so  extensive  a  blockade,  considering  the  war  in  which  she  is  en- 
gaged, requiring  such  extensive  naval  operations,  is  a  question 
which  it  is  not  necessary  at  this  time  to  examine.  It  is  sufficient 
to  be  known,  that  such  force  was  not  applied,  and  this  is  evident 
from  the  terms  of  the  blockade  itself,  by  which,  comparatively, 
an  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  coast  only  was  declared  to  be  in 
a  state  of  strict  and  rigorous  blockade.    The  objection  to  the  mea- 


sure is  not  di 

not  applied,  tl 

failure  might  ] 

ade  cannot  ab 

under  any  pre 

ade,  which  it 

injustice,  not  1 

to  the  law  of  i 

evil,  which  tht 

venient  to  infli 

tral  rights.   Y* 

of  the  British  i 

in  the  sense  in 

ation  of  all  the 

larly   the  cha; 

nounced  it,  we 

conciliation  ar 

differences  be 

death  disappoi 

servient  to  oth 

a  pretext  for  t 

oppressed  and 

The  next  ac 

tention   is  the 

neutral  power? 

of  France  or  li 

Britain  might 

England,  herel 

neutrals  dispo;^ 

the  same  enem 

Every  enemy, 

other,  is  consic 

peace  with  En; 

or  restrained  h 


REPORT. 


XXIX 


sure  is  not  diminished  by  that  cireuinstancc.  If  the  force  was 
not  applied,  the  bloclcadewaH  unlaw  fid,  from  Avhatcvcr  cause  tlic 
failure  might  proceed.  The  belligerent  who  institutes  the  block- 
ade cannot  absolve  itself  from  the  obligation  to  apply  the  force 
under  any  pretext  whatever.  For  a  belligerent  to  relax  a  block- 
ade, which  it  could  not  maintain,  it  would  be  a  refinement  in 
injustice,  not  less  insulting  to  the  understanding  than  rej)ugnant 
to  the  law  of  nations.  To  claim  merit  for  the  mitigation  of  an 
evil,  which  the  party  cither  had  not  the  power  or  found  it  incon- 
venient to  inflict,  would  be  a  new  mode  of  encroaching  on  neu- 
tral rights.  Your  committee  think  it  just  to  remark  that  this  act 
of  the  British  Government  does  not  appear  to  have  been  adoj)ted 
in  the  sense  in  Avhich  it  has  been  since  construed.  On  consider- 
ation of  all  the  circumstances  attending  the  measure,  and  particu- 
larly the  character  of  the  distinguished  statesman  who  an- 
nounced it,  we  are  persuaded  that  it  was  conceived  in  a  spirit  of 
conciliation  and  intended  to  lead  to  an  accommodation  of  all 
differences  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  His 
death  disappointed  that  hope,  and  the  act  has  since  become  sub- 
servient to  other  purposes.  It  has  been  made  by  his  successors 
a  pretext  for  that  vast  system  of  usurpation,  which  has  so  long 
oppressed  and  harassed  our  commerce. 

The  next  act  of  the  British  government  which  claims  our  at- 
tention is  the  order  of  council  of  January  7,  1807,  by  which 
neutral  powers  are  proliibited  trading  from  one  port  to  another 
of  France  or  her  allies,  or  any  other  country  with  which  Great 
Britain  might  not  freely  trade.  By  this  order  the  pretension  of 
England,  heretofore  claimed  by  every  other  power,  to  prohibit 
neutrals  disposing  of  parts  of  their  cargoes  at  different  ports  of 
the  same  enemy,  is  revived  and  with  vast  accumulation  of  injury. 
Every  enemy,  hoAvever  great  the  number  or  distant  from  each 
other,  is  considered  one,  and  the  like  trade  even  with  powers  at 
peace  with  England,  who  from  motives  of  policy  had  excluded 
or  restrained  lier  commerce,  was  also  prohibited.     In  this  act  the 


XXX 


REPORT. 


British  government  cvi(l(Mitly  disclaimed  nil  regard  for  neutral 
rights.  Aware  that  the  measures  authorized  by  it  eonld  find  no 
pretext  in  any  belligerent  right,  none  wns  urged.  To  prohibit 
the  sale  of  our  jmxluee,  consisting  of  innocent  articles  at  any 
port  of  a  belligerent,  not  blocikaded,  to  consider  every  belligerent 
as  one,  and  subj(Hjt  neutrals  to  the  same  restraints  with  all,  as  if 
there  was  but  one,  were  bold  encroachments.  But  to  restrain  or 
in  any  mamicr  interfere  with  our  commerce  with  neutral  nations 
with  whom  Cireut  Britain  was  at  peace,  and  against  whom  she 
had  no  justifiable  cause  of  war,  for  the  sole  reason,  that  they  re- 
strained or  excluded  from  their  ports  her  commerce,  was  utterly 
incompatible;  with  the  pacific  relations  subsisting  between  the 
two  countries. 

We  proceed  to  bring  into  view  the  British  order  in  Council  of 
November  11th,  1807,  which  superseded  every  other  order,  and 
consummated  that  system  of  hostility  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  which  has  been  since  so  steadily  pursued.  By  this 
order  all  France  and  lier  allies  and  every  other  country  at  war 
with  Great  Britain,  or  with  which  she  was  not  at  war,  from  which 
the  British  flag  was  excluded  and  all  the  colonies  of  her  enemies, 
were  subjected  to  the  same  restrictions  as  if  they  were  actually 
blockaded  in  the  most  strict  and  rigorous  manner,  and  all  trade 
in  articles  the  produce  and  manufacture  of  the  said  countries  and 
colonies  and  the  vessels  engaged  in  it  were  subjected  to  capture 
and  condemnation  as  lawful  prize.  To  this  order  certain  ex- 
ceptions were  made  which  we  forbear  to  notice,  because  they 
■were  not  adopted  from  a  regard  to  neutral  rights,  but  were  dic- 
tated by  policy  to  promote  the  commerce  of  England,  and  so  far 
as  they  related  to  neutral  powers,  were  said  to  emanate  from  the 
clemency  of  the  British  Government. 

It  would  be  superfluous  in  your  committee  to  state,  that  by 
this  order  the  British  government  declared  direct  and  positive 
war  against  the  United  States.  The  dominion  of  the  ocean  was 
completely  usurped  by  it,  all  commerce  forbidden,  and  every 


flag  driven  f 

which  did  noi 

])aying  it  a  t 

period  the  U 

most  mortify! 

of  war  withou 

So  far  your 

the  aggression 

of  the  British  j 

We  will  now 

more  severely 

men,  a  practic( 

Britain  in  the  • 

volution.     Yoi 

deep  sense  win 

of  this  proceed! 

men,  our  fellow 

seas,  and  in  cv( 

tends,  arc  takei 

serve  there  as 

wantonly  snatc 

prived  of  thei 

slavish  bondage 

try,  and  often 

protection ;  it  li 

posed  to  danger 

committee  need 

it  is  impossible 

independent  na 

degradation.    I 

the   United  Str 

government  an 

trol  of  its  own 


REPORT. 


XXXI 


flag  driven  from  it,  or  subjected  to  capture  and  eondonination, 
which  did  not  Mubserve  the  policy  of  the  British  governnient  by 
jiaying  it  a  tribute,  and  .sailing  \uu\vr  its  sanction.  From  this 
period  the  United  States  have  incurred  the  heaviest  hDSses  and 
most  mortifying  humiliations.  They  liavc  borne  the  calamities 
of  war  without  retorting  them  on  its  authors. 

So  far  your  committee  has  presented  to  the  view  of  the  house 
the  aggressions  which  have  been  comtnitted  under  tlic  aiithority 
of  the  British  government  on  the  commerce  of  the  United  SUvtes. 
We  will  now  proceed  to  other  wrongs  which  have  been  still 
more  severely  felt.  Among  these  is  the  impressment  of  our  sea- 
men, a  practice  which  has  been  unceasingly  maintained  by  Great 
Britain  in  the  wars  to  which  she  has  been  a  party  since  our  re- 
volution. Your  committee  cannot  convey  in  adequate  terms  the 
deep  sense  which  they  entertain  of  the  injustice  and  oppression 
of  this  proceeding.  Under  the  pretext  of  impressing  British  sea- 
men, our  fellow-citizens  are  seized  in  British  ports,  on  the  high 
seas,  and  in  every  other  quarter  to  which  the  British  power  ex- 
tends, arc  taken  on  board  British  men-of-war  and  compelled  to 
serve  there  as  British  subjects.  In  this  mode  our  citizens  arc 
wantonly  snatched  from  their  country  and  their  families,  de- 
prived of  their  liberty,  and  doomed  to  an  ignominious  and 
slavish  bondage,  compelled  to  fight  the  battles  of  a  foreign  coun- 
try, and  often  to  perish  in  them.  Our  flng  has  given  them  no 
protection  ;  it  has  been  unceasingly  violated,  and  our  vessels  ex- 
posed to  danger  by  the  loss  of  the  men  taken  from  them.  Your 
committee  need  not  remark  that  while  the  practice  is  continued, 
it  is  impossible  for  the  United  States  to  consider  themselves  an 
independent  nation.  Every  new  case  is  a  new  proof  of  their 
degradation.  Its  continuance  is  the  more  unjustifiable  because 
the  United  States  have  repeatedly  proposed  to  the  British 
government  an  arrangement  which  would  secure  to  it  the  con- 
trol of  its  own  people.    An  exemption  of  the  citizens  of  the 


XXXll 


in:pouT. 


United  States  from  tliin  degniding  ojiprcssion,  and  tlieir  flag  from 
violation,  is  all  tliat  tliey  have  .^ougiit. 

The  lawless  waste  of  our  trade,  and  e([uallv'  unlawful  impress- 
ment of  our  seiiiiirn,  have  })een  mueh  aggravated  l)y  the  insults 
and  indignities  attending  them.  Under  the  })rett^xt  of  block- 
ading the  ports  and  harbors  of  Franee  and  her  allieH,  British 
squadrons  have  been  stationed  on  our  own  eoast,  to  watch  and  an- 
noy our  own  trade.  To  give  efl'eetto  the  blockade  of  Kuropean 
j)orts,  the  ports  and  harl)ors  of  tin-  United  States  have  been 
blocka<led.  In  executing  these  orders  of  the  British  govern- 
ment, or  in  obeying  the  s])irit  which  was  known  to  animate  it, 
the  commanders  of  these  squadrons  have  encroached  on  our  ju- 
risdiction, seized  our  vessels,  and  carried  into  effect  impressments 
within  our  limits,  and  dont;  other  acts  of  great  injustice,  violence 
and  op})ression.  The  United  States  have  seen  with  mingled 
indignation  and  surprise,  that  these  acts,  instead  of  ja'ocuring 
to  the  perpetrators  the  punislunent  due  to  their  crimes,  have 
not  failed  to  recommend  them  to  the  favor  of  their  govern- 
ment. 

Whether  the  British  government  has  contributed  by  active 
measures  to  excite  against  us  the  hostility  of  the  savnge  tribes  on 
our  frontiers,  your  committee  are  not  disposed  to  occu])y  much 
time  in  investigating.  Certain  indications  of  general  notoriety 
may  supply  the  place  of  authentic  documents ;  tliough  these 
liave  not  been  wanting  to  establish  the  fact  in  some  instances. 
It,  is  known  tliat  symptoms  of  British  hostility  towards  the 
United  States,  have  never  failed  to  produce  corresponding  symp- 
toms among  those  tribes.  It  is  also  well  known  that  on  all  such 
occasions,  abundant  supplies  of  the  ordinary  munitions  of  war 
have  been  afforded  by  the  agents  of  British  commercial  compa- 
nies, and  even  from  British  garrisons,  wherewith  they  were  en- 
abled to  commence  that  system  of  savage  warfare  on  our  fron- 
tiers, which  has  been   at  all  times  indiscriminate  in  its  ef- 


REPORT. 


XXXlll 


fcctfl  on  all  ages,  scxo3  and  cunditiona,  and  so  revolting  to  hu- 
manity. 

Yonr  conuiiittcM',  would  bo  nmcli  gratified  if  they  eould  clo.s  ^ 
hero  the  details  of  IkitiMJi  wrongs  ;  but  it  is  their  duty  to  recite 
another  act  of  still  greater  malignity,  than  any  of  those  which 
have  been  already  brought  to  your  view.  The  attemjjt  to  dis- 
member our  union,  and  overthrow  our  excellent  constitution,  by 
H  secret  mission,  tho  object  of  which  was  to  foment  discontents, 
and  excite  insurrection  against  the  constituted  authorities  and 
laws  of  the  nation,  as  lately  disclosed  by  the  agent  employed  in 
it,  affords  full  proof  that  there  is  no  bound  to  the  hostility  of 
the  British  govcirnment  townrds  tho  United  States ;  no  act, 
however  unjustifiable,  which  it  would  not  commit  to  accom- 
plish their  ruin.  This  attempt  excites  tho  greater  horror  from 
tiie  consideration  that  it  was  made  while  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain  were  at  j)cace,  and  an  amicable  negociation  was 
depending  between  them  for  the  accommodation  of  their  differ- 
ences  through  public  ministers  regularly  authorized  for  the 
purpose. 

The  United  States  have  beheld,  with  unexampled  forbear- 
ance, this  continued  series  of  hostile  encroachments  on  their 
rights  and  interests,  in  the  hope  that,  yielding  to  the  force  of 
friendly  remonstrances,  often  repeated,  the  British  government 
might  adopt  a  more  just  policy  towards  them;  but  that  hope  no 
longer  exists.  They  have  also  weighed  impartially  the  reasons 
which  have  been  urged  by  the  British  government  in  vindication 
of  these  encroachments,  and  found  in  them  neither  justification 
or  apology. 

The  British  government  has  alleged,  in  vindication  of  the  or- 
ders in  council,  that  they  ■were  resorted  to  as  a  retaliation  on 
France,  for  similar  aggressions  committed  by  her  on  our  neutral 
trade  with  the  British  dominions.  But  how  has  this  plea  been 
supported  ?  The  dates  of  British  and  French  aggressions  are 
well  known  to  the  world.    Their  origin  and  progress  have  been 


XX  XIV 


liiTonT. 


miirkcd  with  too  wido  and  dcstnic'tivc  n,  waHtc  of  tlio  property 
of  our  fi'lIow-cifi/ciiH,  toliavobecin  forj^ot^on.  TlKMleerco  of  Mer- 
lin of  N<iV.  2l.sf,  I'SOO,  was  the  MrHt  iijr^'res.sioii  of  Knuiee  in  tho 
preH(!nt  wiir.  Mi;^hteen  months  hud  then  ehipsod,  aller  th(»  at- 
tack made  by  (Jreat  IJritain  on  our  neutral  trade  with  the  colo- 
nies of  France  and  lior  allies,  and  six  months  from  tlu;  date  of 
the  proelamaliou  of  Alay,  LS06.  Mven  on  the  7th  of  January, 
1807,  the  date  of  the  first  British  onler  in  council,  so  Hhort  n 
term  had  elapsed,  after  the  IUmTih  decree,  that  it  was  hardly  j>os- 
sible  that  the  inte]ii;^ence  of  it  should  have  reached  the  United 
States.  A  retaliation,  -whieh  is  t(j  produce  its  elTect  by  operating 
on  a  neutral  ])Owcr,  ouj^lit  not  to  bo  resorted  to,  till  the  neutral 
liad  justified  it  by  a  culpable  acquiescence  in  the  unlawful  act  of 
the  other  belligeri'ut.  Itou^ht  to  be  delayed  until  after  sulTicient 
time  had  been  allowed  to  the  neutral  to  remonstrate  against  the 
measure  complained  of,  lo  receive  an  answer,  and  to  act  on  it, 
which  had  not  been  done  in  the  present  instance;  and  when  the 
order  of  November  11th  was  issued,  it  is  well  known  that  a  min- 
ister of  Fran('(!  had  dc'clared  to  the  Minister  rienii)otentiary  of 
the  United  States  at  Paris,  that  it  was  not  intended  that  the  de- 
cree of  Berlin  should  apply  to  the  United  States,  It  is  equally 
well  known,  that  no  American  vessel  liad  then  been  condemned 
under  it,  or  seizure  been  made,  with  which  the  Britisli  govern- 
ment was  acquainted.  The  facts  prove  incontcstibly,  that  the 
measures  of  France,  however  unjustifiable  in  themselves,  were 
nothing  more  than  a  pretext  for  those  of  England.  And  of  the 
insufficiency  of  that  pretext,  ample  proof  has  already  been  afford- 
ed by  the  British  government  itself,  and  in  the  most  impressive 
form.  Although  it  was  declared  that  the  orders  in  council  were 
retaliatory  on  France  for  her  decrees,  it  was  also  declared,  and  in 
the  orders  themselves,  that  owing  to  the  superiority  of  the  Brit- 
ish navy,  by  which  the  fleets  of  France  aud  her  allies  were  con- 
fined within  their  own  ports,  the  French  decrees  were  considered 
only  as  empty  threats. 


It  is  no  just 

were  (5ornmitt( 

b(>en  urged  b 

justice,  of  its 

worthy  th'^  go 

sail  the  injurec 

power  repair  t 

jured  party. 

qui(>t  surrendei 

will  of  others. 

duced,  nor  do  1 

with  either  pov 

love  of  peace,  ( 

still  indulged,  t 

ment,  w^.'  I  nc 

mistake!    i'"the 

a  just  sensibility 

\)h  redress  was 

arrived  when  tl 

insulting  to  rcji 

United  States 

rif/hLf  and  avenj 

of  them,  with 

sponsible    for 

another. 

For  the  diffcn 
the  application 
the  motive  has 
known  to  requi: 
strictions  to  wh 
their  sensibility 
variably  placed 
in  respect  to  itsc 
the  condition  of 


ii: 


RF.rORT. 


XXXV 


It  is  no  justificiilion  of  thn  wrongs  of  one  power,  tliat  tlui  liko 
wore  <!ointiiitl('(l  by  another;  nor  ought  th(^  Ihct,  if  true,  to  huvo 
hccn  urged  by  either,  iiH  it  cotihl  all'onl  no  proof  of  its  love  of 
jiiMtiee,  of  its  niagiiiinimity,  or  even  of  its  (H)urago.  It  is  more 
worthy  th"  government  of  ii  great  nation  to  relieve  tlian  to  as- 
sail the  injured.  Nor  can  a  rei)etition  of  the  wrongs  by  another 
power  repair  the  violated  riglits,  or  wounded  lionor,  of  the  in- 
jured party.  An  utter  inability  alone  to  resist,  would  justify  a 
quiet  surrender  of  our  rights,  and  degrading  submission  to  the 
will  of  others.  To  that  condition  the  lTnite(l  States  are  not  rc- 
(hiced,  nor  do  they  fear  it.  That  they  ever  consented  to  diseu.s8 
with  either  j)ower  the  misconduct  of  the  other,  is  a  proof  of  thc^r 
love  of  peace,  of  their  moderation,  and  of  the  hope  which  tliey 
Htill  in'' II 'ged,  that  friendly  apjjeals  to  just  and  generous  senti- 
ment, w<»e'  I  not  be  made  to  them  in  vain.  But  the  motive  was 
mistake'  *"  their  forbearance  was  imjmted,  either  to  the  want  of 
a  just  sen.sit)dity  to  their  wrongs,  or  of  n  determination,  if  suita- 
ble redress  was  not  obtained,  to  resent  them.  IMie  timeliaa  now 
arrived  Avhen  this  system  of  reasoning  must  cease.  It  would  be 
insulting  to  repeat  it.  It  would  be  degrading  to  hear  it.  The 
United  States  must  act  as  an  indei)ondcnt  nation,  and  assert  their 
rights  and  avenge  their  wronrjs^  according  to  tlunr  own  estimate 
of  them,  with  the  party  wlio  commits  them,  holding  it  re- 
sponsible for  \i\  own  misdeeds,  unmitigateil  by  those  of 
another. 

For  the  difference  made  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  by 
the  application  of  the  non-importation  act  against  England  only, 
the  motive  has  been  already  too  oftcm  explained,  and  is  too  well 
known  to  require  further  illustration.  In  the  commercial  re- 
strictions to  which  the  United  States  resorted  as  an  evidence  of 
their  sensibility,  and  a  mild  retaliation  of  their  wrongs,  they  in- 
variably placed  both  powers  on  the  same  footing,  holding  to  eacli 
in  respect  to  itself,  the  same  accommodation,  in  case  it  accepted 
the  condition  offered,  and  in  respect  to  the  other,  the  same  re- 


XXXVl 


REPORT. 


straint,  if  it  refused.  Had  the  British  government  confirmed  the 
arrangement,  which  waa  entered  into  with  the  British  Minister 
in  1809,  and  France  maintained  her  decrees,  with  France  wouhl 
the  United  States  have  had  to  resist,  with  the  firnmcss  belonging 
to  their  character,  the  continued  viohation  of  their  rights  ?  The 
committee  do  not  hesitate  to  declare,  that  Fraiice  has  greatly  in- 
jured the  United  States,  and  that  satisfictory  reparation  has  not 
yet  been  made  for  many  of  those  injuries.  But  that  is  a  concern 
which  the  United  States  will  look  to  and  settle  for  themselves. 
The  high  character  of  the  American  people,  is  a  sufficient  pledge 
to  the  Avorld,  that  they  will  not  fail  to  settle  it,  on  conditions 
which  they  have  a  right  to  claim. 

More  recently,  the  true  policy  of  the  British  government 
towards  the  United  States  has  been  completely  uniolded.  It 
has  been  publicly  declared  by  those  in  power,  that  the  orders  in 
council  should  not  be  repealed,  until  tlie  French  government 
had  revoked  all  its  internal  restraints  on  the  British  commerce, 
Jind  that  the  trade  of  the  United  States  witli  France  and  her 
allies,  should  be  prohibited  until  Great  Britain  was  also  allowed 
to  trade  with  them.  By  tliis  declaration,  it  appears,  that  to 
satisfy  the  pretensions  of  the  British  government,  the  United 
States  must  join  Great  Britain  in  the  war  with  France,  and  prose- 
cute the  war,  until  France  should  be  subdued,  for  without  her 
subjugation,  it  were  in  vain  to  presume  on  such  a  concession. 
The  hostility  of  the  British  government  to  these  states  has  been 
still  further  disclosed.  It  has  been  made  manifest  that  the 
United  States  are  considered  by  it  as  the  commercial  rival  of 
Great  Britain,  and  that  their  prosperity  and  growth  are  incom- 
patible with  her  welfare.  When  all  these  circumstances  are 
taken  into  consideration,  it  is  impossible  for  your  committee  to 
doubt  the  motives  which  have  governed  the  British  minis- 
try in  all  its  measures  towards  the  United  States  since  the 
year  1805.  Equally  is  it  impossible  to  doubt,  longer,  the  course 
which  the  United  States  ought  to  pursue  towards  Great  Britain. 


From  this 
ment,  since  tl 
evident  to  tl 
forced  on  th 
sovereignty  i 
large  on  any  < 
transitory  effc 
to  those  of  a  j 
on  our  most 
vitally  our  be 
States  of  the  p 
to.     The  cont 
at  pleasure,  ar 
sive  manner  ii 
effect  by  scizii 
cargoes,  as  we: 
previous  warn 
zens  from  on 
where,  and  h( 
venicnce  of  tl 
ments  of  that 
to  produce  thi 
consequences 
ment  might 
gained  over 
proof,  which 
authority  woi 
spire  confideni 
and  our  degra| 
Your  comi 
are  worthy  to 
the  price  of  ml 
adopted  by  g| 
which  might 


UEPORT. 


XXXVll 


From  this  view  of  the  multiplied  wrongs  of  the  British  govom- 
ment,  since  the  coimncncement  of  the  present  war,  it  must  be 
evident  to  the  impartial  workl,  that  the  contest  which  is  now 
forced  on  the  United  States,  is  radically  a  contest  for  their 
sovereignty  and  independence.  Your  committee  will  not  en- 
large on  any  of  the  injuries,  however  great,  which  have  had  a 
transitory  effect.  They  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House 
to  those  of  a  parliamentary  nature  only,  which  intrench  so  deeply 
on  our  most  important  rights,  and  wound  so  extensively  and 
vitally  our  best  interests,  as  could  not  fail  to  deprive  the  United 
States  of  the  principal  advantages  of  their  revolution,  if  submitted 
to.  The  control  of  our  commerce  by  Great  Britain,  in  regulating 
at  pleasure,  and  expelling  it  almost  from  tlie  ocean  ;  the  oppres- 
sive manner  in  which  these  regulations  have  been  carried  into 
effect  by  seizing  and  confiscating  such  of  our  vessels,  with  their 
cargoes,  as  were  said  to  have  violated  her  edicts,  often  without 
previous  warning  of  their  danger ;  the  impressment  of  our  citi 
zens  from  on  board  our  own  vess  's,  on  the  high  seas,  and  else 
where,  and  holding  them  in  bondage  until  it  suited  the  con- 
venience of  these  oppressors  to  deliver  them  up,  are  encroach- 
ments of  that  high  and  dangerous  tendency  which  could  not  fail 
to  produce  that  pernicious  effect,  nor  would  those  be  the  only 
consequences  that  would  result  from  it.  The  British  govern- 
ment might  for  a  while  be  satisfied  with  the  ascendency  thus 
gained  over  us,  but  its  prt  .ensions  would  soon  increase.  The 
proof,  which  so  complete  and  disgraceful  a  submission  to  its 
authority  would  afford  of  our  degeneracy,  could  not  fail  to  in- 
spire confidence,  that  there  was  no  limit  to  Avhich  its  usurpations 
and  our  degradations  niight  not  be  carried. 

Your  committee,  believing  that  the  freeborn  sons  of  America 
are  worthy  to  enjoy  the  liberty  which  their  fathers  purchased  at 
the  price  of  much  blood  and  treasure,  and  seeing  in  the  measures 
adopted  by  Great  Britain,  a  course  commenced  and  persisted  in 
which  might  lead  to  a  loss  of  national  character  and  indepen- 


XXXVlll 


DECLARATION    OF    WAR. 


dence,  feci  no  hesitation  in  advising  resistance  by  force,  in  which 
the  Americans  of  the  present  day  will  provo  to  the  enemy  and 
to  the  ivorld,  that  we  have  not  only  inherited  that  liberty 
which  our  fathers  gave  us,  but  also  the  iviU  and  power  to 
maintain  it.  Relying  on  the  patriotism  of  the  nation,  and  con- 
fidently trusting  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts  will  go  Avith  us  to 
battle  in  a  righteous  cause,  and  crown  our  efforts  with  suc- 
cess— ^your  committee  reconnnend  an  immediate  appeal  to 
ARMS ! 

AN  ACT 

Declaring  War  between  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland^  and  the  dependencies  thereof  and  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  their  Territories. 

Be  it  enacted  hj  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assemhied.  That  WAR  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  between  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  dependencies 
thereof,  and  the  United  States  of  America  and  their  territories ; 
and  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized  to  use  the  whole  land  and  naval  force  of  the  United 
States,  to  carry  the  same  into  effect,  and  to  issue  to  private-armed 
vessels  of  the  United  States  commissions,  or  letters -of-marque, 
and  general  reprisals,  in  such  form  as  he  shall  think  proper, 
and  under  the  seal  of  the  United  States,  against  the  vessels, 
goods  and  effects  of  the  government  of  the  same  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  of  the  subjects 
thereof 

Approved,  JAMES  MADISON. 

June  18th,  1812. 

On  the  final  passage  of  the  act  in  the  Senate,  the  vote  was  19 
to  13  •,  in  the  House,  79  to  49. 


BY  THE    P: 


A 

Whereas 
constituted  au 
bearing  date  t 
between  the  I 
the  dependem 
their  tcrritori 
of  the  United 
to  all  whom  it 
persons  holdii 
the  United  Sti 
iug  the  duties 
exhort  all  the 
their  country; 
the  virtue  an( 
which  have  f 
and  as  they  cc 
Providence, 
selves  in  prcs 
taining  the  a 
porting  and  ir 
by  the  constit 
an  honorable 

r^ 

(seal.) 

v^-'^^s^      In 

and  caused  tl 
presents. 


BY  THE    PRESIDENT   OF  THE   UNITED    STATES  OF 

AMERICA. 

A    PROCLAMATION. 


Whereas  the  Congress  of  tlie  United  States,  by  virtue  of  the 
constituted  authority  vested  in  them,  have  dcelared  by  their  aet, 
bearing  date  the  18th  day  of  the  present  month,  that  war  exists 
between  the  United  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and 
the  dependencies  thereof,  and  the  United  States  of  America  and 
their  territories:  Now  therefore,  I,  James  Madison,  President 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  do  hereby  prochiim  the  same 
to  all  whom  it  may  concern:  and  I  do  specially  enjoin  on  all 
persons  holding  offices,  civil  or  military,  under  the  authority  of 
the  United  States,  that  'they  be  vigilant  and  zealous,  in  discharg- 
ing the  duties  respectively  incident  thereto.  And  I  do  moreover 
exhort  all  the  good,  people  of  the  United  States,  as  they  love 
their  country;  as  thev  value  the  precious  heritage  derived  from 
the  virtue  and  valor  of  their  fathers ;  as  they  feel  the  wrongs 
which  have  forced  on  them  the  last  resort  of  injured  nations; 
and  as  they  consult  the  best  means,  under  the  blessing  of  Divine 
Providence,  of  abridging  its  calamities;  that  they  exert  them- 
selves in  preserving  order,  in  promoting  concord,  and  in  main- 
taining the  authority  and  the  efficacy  of  the  laws,  and  in  sup- 
porting and  invigorating  all  the  measures  which  may  be  adopted 
by  the  constituted  authorities,  for  obtaining  a  speedy,  a  just,  and 
an  honorable  peace. 

(seal.) 

'^•^^-^  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed  to  these 
presents. 

(xxxix) 


xl 


MR.    ADAiMS     OriNION    OF    TIIK    WAR. 


Done  at  tlie  City  of  "Washington,  the  nineteenth  day  of  June, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve,  and  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  the  thirty-sixth. 

(Signed) 

By  the  President, 


(Signed) 


JAMES  MADISON. 

JAMES  MONROE, 

Secretary  of  State. 


I  insert  here  the  following  letter  of  the  venerable  patriot  John 
Adams,  former  President  of  the  United  States,  to  his  friend 
Elkenah  "Watson,  Esq.,  of  Pittsfield,  and  think  his  opinion  of  the 
war  is  deserving  the  respectful  eonsidcration  of  every  dispassion- 
ate American, 

"  Quincy,  July  6ih,  1812. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  received  the  favor  of  your  letter  of  the 
28th  of  last  month,  which  has  revived  the  recollection  of  our 
former  acquaintance  in  France,  England  and  Holland,  as  well 
;^s  in  several  parts  of  our  own  country,  I  think  with  you,  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  considerate  man  to  support  the  national 
authorities,  in  whose  hands  soever  they  may  be ;  though  I  will 
not  say  whatever  their  measures  may  be. 

"  To  your  allusion  to  the  war,  I  have  nothing  to  say  but  that 
it  was  with  surprise  that  I  hear  it  pronounced,  not  only  by  news- 
I)apers,  but  by  persons  in  authority,  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  and 
political  and  military,  that  it  is  an  unjust  and  unnecessary  war, 
that  the  declaration  of  it  was  altogether  unexpected,  etc. 

"  How  it  is  possible  that  a  rational,  a  social,  or  a  moral  crea- 
ture can  say  that  the  war  is  unjust,  is  to  me  utterly  incompre- 
hensible. 

"How  it  can  be  said  to  be  unnecessary   is  very  mysteri- 


ous.    I  have 
years. 

"  How  it  ea 
have  expectec; 
liad  great  reai 
long.  I  saw  i 
in  Franco,  in  '. 
another  war  r 
pressed  with  i. 
inorly  Lord  SI 
live  long  enou 
long  enough  t( 
and  the  Unite 
long  enough  t( 
see  it ;  but  I  h 
a  peace,  if  the 

"Our  Agri( 
but  tlie  great 
the  war.     Mar 

"The  Minii 
opinion  of  th( 
kiln  dried.' 


MR.    ADAMS     OPINION    OF    THE    WAR. 


xli 


0U3.     I  have  thought  it  both  just  and  necessary,  for  five  or  six 
years. 

"  How  it  can  bo  said  to  be  unexpected,  is  another  wonder ;  I 
have  expected  it  for  more  than  five  and  twenty  years,  and  have 
had  great  reason  to  be  thankful  that  it  has  been  postponed  so 
long.  I  saw  such  a  spirit  in  the  British  Islands,  when  I  resided 
in  France,  in  Holland,  and  in  England  itself,  that  I  expected 
another  war  much  sooner  than  it  has  hajjpened.  I  was  so  im- 
pressed with  the  idea,  that  I  expressed  to  Lord  Lansdowno  (for- 
merly Lord  Shelburnc),  an  apprehension  that  his  lordship  would 
live  long  enough  to  be  obliged  to  make,  and  that  I  should  live 
long  enough  to  see  another  peace  made  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States  of  America.  His  lordship  did  not  live 
long  enough  to  make  the  peace,  and  I  shall  not  probably  live  to 
see  it ;  but  I  have  lived  to  sec  the  war  that  must  be  followed  by 
a  peace,  if  the  war  is  not  eternal. 

"  Our  Agricultural  Societies  may  not  be  so  much  regarded, 
but  tlie  great  interest  of  agriculture  will  not  be  diminished  by 
the  war.     Manufactures  will  be  promoted. 

"  The  Minister  of  St.  Petersburg  will  be  informed  of  your 
opinion  of  the  utility  of  some  bushels  of  Siberian  wheat,  not 
kiln  dried.' 

"Yours  truly, 

"JOHN  ADAMS." 


TARDY    JUSTICE. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  BOSTON  CIIRONICLE. 


"The  American  aeanieu  wlio  were  tiikeu  from  tlic frigate  Che- 
sapeake, on  tlie  22J  June,  1807,  by  the  Briti.sh  ship-of-war 
Leopard,  were  this  day,  Saturday,  June  13,  1812,  restored  to  the 
same  ship  in  the  harbor  of  Boston. 

"  Th(^y  were  eondueted  on  board  by  Lieutenant  Simpson,  a  Bri- 
tish offieer,  and  received  at  the  gang-Avay  by  Lieutenant  Wilkin- 
son, of  the  Chesapeake,  wlio  made  the  Ibllowing  pertinent 
address : 

"Sir, — I  am  connnanded  by  Commodore  Baiubridgc  to  receive 
these  two  American  seamen,  on  the  very  deck  from  which  they 
were  wantonly  taken  in  time  of  peace,  by  a  vessel  of  vDur  na- 
tion, of  superior  force.'  Midshipman  Saunders  conducted  the 
men  to  Commodore  Bainbridge,  upon  tlie  quarter-deck — the 
Conmiodore  received  them  witli  these  appropriate  and  truly 
American  observations.  '  ^My  lads  I  am  glad  to  see  you — from 
this  deck  you  were  taken  by  British  outrage — for  your  return  to 
it  you  owe  gratitude  to  the  government  of  your  country.  Your 
country  now  offers  you  an  opportunity  to  revenge  your  wrongs ; 
and  I  cannot  doubt  but  that  you  will  be  desirous  of  doing  so 
on  board  of  this  very  ship.  I  trust  the  flag  that  flies  on  board 
of  her,  shall  gloriously  defend  you  in  future.'  Three  cheers 
were  given  by  a  numerous  company  of  citizens  and  seamen,  as- 
sembled to  witness  the  interesting  transaction. 

"  There  were  four  men  taken  out  of  the  Chesapeake ;  one,  they 
tell  us,  has  since  died,  two  they  now  restore,  and  one  they  hung 
at  Halifax." 

xlii 


I  COMMET 

favor  of  P 
private  an 
1814.     Air 
at  that  peri 
Mr.  Jeflers 
"What  is  ^ 
trying  whicl 
on  the  war  ? 
individuals, 
individuals, 
individuals, 
his  propert_ 
vessel  ?    Di 
dred  and  se 
gratification 
Majesty's  m 
acted  by  a  s 
four  guns  ; 
whether  on 
on  the  perse 
of  violence 
One  man  fig 
or  a  patrioti 


USTTRODUCTION^. 


I  COMMENCE  my  plea,  soliciting  public  approbation  in 
favor  of  Privatcersraen,  and  for  those  who  served  in 
private  armed  vessels  in  the  war  of  1812,  1813,  and 
1814.  And  in  order  to  show  the  state  of  public  opinion 
at  that  period,  I  will  here  insert  an  article,  written  by 
Mr.  Jefl'erson,  dated  July   the   4th,  1812  : 

"What  is  war  ?  It  is  simply  a  contest  between  nations,  of 
trying  which  can  do  the  other  the  most  harm.  Who  carries 
on  the  war  ?  Armies  are  formed  and  Navies  manned  by 
individuals.  How  is  a  battle  gained  ?  By  the  death  of 
individuals.  What  produces  peace  ?  The  distress  of 
individuals.  What  difference  to  the  sufferer  is  it  that 
his  property  is  taken  b}'^  a  national  or  private  armed 
vessel?  Did  our  merchants,  who  have  lost  nine  hun- 
dred and  seventeen  vessels  by  British  captures,  feel  any 
gratification  that  the  most  of  them  were  taken  by  His 
Majesty's  men-of-war  ?  Were  the  spoils  less  rigidly  ex- 
acted by  a  seventy-four  gun  ship  than  by  a  privateer  of 
four  guns  ;  and  were  not  all  equally  condemned  ?  War, 
whether  on  land  or  sea,  is  constituted  of  acts  of  violence 
on  the  persons  and  property  of  individuals  ;  and  excess 
of  violence  is  the  grand  cause  that  brings  about  a  peace. 
One  man  fights  for  wages  paid  him  by  the  government, 
or  a  patriotic  zeal  for  the  defence      '  his  country  ;  an- 

(xliii) 


xliv 


INTRODUCTION. 


otJier,  duly  aiilhorizcd,  luid  giving  tlie  proper  pledges 
for  his  good  conduct,  undertakes  to  pay  himself  iit  Die 
expense  of  tlie  foe,  and  serve  his  country  as  effectually 
as  the  former,  and  government  drawing  all  its  supplies 
from  the  people,  is,  in  reality,  as  much  aflected  by  the 
losses  of  the  one  as  the  other,  the  efficacy  of  its  measures 
depending  upon  the  energies  and  resources  of  the 
whole.  In  the  United  States,  every  possible  encourage- 
ment should  be  given  to  privateering  in  time  of  war 
with  a  commercial  nation.  We  have  tens  of  thousands 
of  seamen  that  without  it  would  be  destitute  of  the 
means  of  support,  and  useless  to  their  country.  Our 
national  ships  are  too  few  in  number  to  give  employ- 
ment to  a  twentieth  part  of  them,  or  retaliate  the  acts 
of  the  enemy.  But  by  licensing  private  armed  vessels, 
the  whole  naval  force  of  the  nation  is  truly  brought  to 
bear  on  the  foe,  and  while  the  contest  lasts,  that  it  may 
have  the  speedier  termination,  let  every  individual 
contribute  his  mite,  in  the  best  way  he  can,  to  dis- 
tress and  harass  the  enemy,  and  compel  him  to 
peace.  " 

To  arrive  at  the  odium  entertained  against  privateer- 
ing by  the  honest  and  virtuous  part  of  the  world,  I  must 
carry  my  readers  back  to  the  piratical  age  of  the  reck- 
less buccaneers,  which  continued  for  a  period  of  twenty 
or  thirty  years,  say  from  1610  to  1640. 

Although  these  piratical  vessels  occasionally  infested 
almost  every  sea,  their  principal  resorts  were  along  the 
coast  of  the  Spanish  Main,  and  among  the  West  India 
Islands. 


These  c 
barbarous 
mercial  pc 
neither  fri( 
or  sex. 

Their  oi 
these  mean 
honest  and 
less  bravad 
murder,  be 
seemed  to 
innocent  vi 

No  wonc 
enmity  sho 
ing  for  cen 
where  a  la 
cated,  it  re 
rooted  prej 
enlightenec 
are  no  long 
country,  th 
teering,  fr( 
by  associat 
buccaneers 
war  with 
on  this  sub 
be  cherishe 
were  emph 
can  people 
England,  it 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlv 


These  dcyperatc  buccaneers  cominitted  all  sorts  of 
barbarous  acts,  and  were,  in  fact,  a  terror  to  tlie  coui- 
mercial  portion  of  all  civilized  nations.  They  spared 
neither  friend  nor  foe,  and  were  alike  regardless  of  age 
or  sex. 

Their  only  object  was  robbery  and  plunder,  and  by 
these  means  to  enrich  themselves,  at  the  expense  of  the 
honest  and  industrious  portion  of  mankind.  These  ruth- 
less bravadoes,  by  the  habitual  practice  of  rapine  and 
murder,  became  so  hardened  in  sin  and  crime,  that  they 
seemed  to  riot  and  rejoice  over  the  sullcrings  of  their 
innocent  victims. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  a  strong  and  deep  feeling  of 
enmity  should  still  continue  to  be  felt  against  privateer- 
ing for  centuries  after  it  was  abolished.  In  Europe, 
where  a  large  portion  of  every  community  is  unedu- 
cated, it  requires  many  long  years  to  eradicate  a  deep- 
rooted  prejudice  from  among  the  masses,  long  after  the 
enlightened  classes  are  convinced  that  such  transactions 
are  no  longer  in  existence.  Even  in  our  own  intelligent 
country,  there  exists  a  strong  prejudice  against  priva- 
teering, from  the  same  cause  as  before  stated,  namely, 
by  associating  it  with  the  by-gone  days  of  the  reckless 
buccaneers.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  our  lato 
war  with  England  has  created  a  more  favorable  feeling 
on  this  subject,  and  that  a  more  liberal  sentiment  will 
be  cherished  towards  privateersmen,  and  to  those  who 
were  employed  in  private  armed  vessels.  The  Ameri- 
can people  must  be  convinced  that,  in  our  last  war  with 
England,  it  was  carried  on  by  privateers  and  private 


xlvi 


INTUOmiCTlON. 


anncd  vessels  in  a  spirit  of  lioiioruldo  warfare,  and  gen- 
erally by  gentlemen  of  high  an<l  patriotic  sentiments, 
and  in  most  instances  with  marked  hinnanity,  coupled 
with  acts  of  generosity  and  kindness  toward  their 
avowed  enemy,  and,  as  I  believe,  with  a  sincere  desire  to 
soften  the  rugged  features  of  war. 

It  is  true  that  every  honorable  device  was  practised 
to  cripple  our  enemy,  by  diminishing  his  means  and 
power  to  injure  us,  and  thus  compel  him  to  an  honora- 
ble peace. 

It  nuist  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  war  on  our 
part  was  strictly  confined  to  the  injury  of  Great  Britain, 
and  that  in  no  instance  was  a  single  neutral  nation 
involved  in  loss  or  insult  by  our  privateers. 

In  this  age  of  traffic  and  moneymaking,  when  patriot- 
ism is  measured  by  dollars  and  cents,  remarks  prejudi- 
cial to  those  who  sailed  in  privateers  and  letters-of- 
marque  are  made  by  some,  without  much  reflection  or 
knowledge  on  the  subject.  Others  assert  that  they 
were  a  mercenary  set  of  desperadoes,  only  bent  on  en- 
riching themselves  with  the  s})oils  of  their  adversaries, 
possessing  little  honor,  and  less  patriotism.  Now  if 
there  be  a  single  respectable  individual  possessed  of  this 
opinion,  I  shall  be  happy  to  disabuse  his  mind  on  the 
subject,  for  I  can  assure  him,  that  there  never  was  a 
viler  slander  imputed  to  such  a  noble  class  of  men.  I 
am  happy  to  say  I  was  personally  acquainted  with  scores 
of  the  captains  and  officers,  who  sailed  in  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque,  during  our  war  with  England,  and  am 
confident,  that  a  large   proportion  of  those  who  com- 


manded the 
men,  wonk 
military  me 
The  folk 
marque  I  h 
and  some  of 
mate  friend; 

VOSBO 

Snrntogn, 

Rossic, 
I     Midas, 
j     General  Arr 
j     Brig  Ida, 

Rattlesnake, 

Globe, 
i     Scourge, 
j     Dolphin, 

American, 

Jack's  Favoi 
I     Benj.  Frankl 

I  cannot  a 
captains  of  pr 
conspicuous!) 
the  seas. 

All  the  per 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlvii 


mundod  those  vcssola,  aa  well  as  their  ofTicers  luul  soji- 
mcn,  would  favorably  compare  with  the  Hamo  clasH  of 
military  men  in  any  army  or  navy  in  t'.ie  world. 

The  following-  captains  of  privateers  and  letters-of- 
mar((uc  I  kraw  personally,  both  at  iiome  and  abroad, 
and  some  of  them  I  was  proud  to  acknowledge  as  inti- 
mate friends  : 


Vessels. 

Captains, 

1 
VVhoro  belonging. 

Snratogn, 

WoosUm-,     aflor-     "i 
wjinl    (liiy    R.   ? 
Clianipliii,             ) 

New  York. 

Rossic, 

Conunodoro  Banicy, 

Baltimore. 

Midas, 

Cliayter, 

Baltimore. 

General  Armstronpj, 

Sam.  0.  Rcid, 

New  York. 

Brig  Idn, 

Jeremiah  Mantor, 

Boston. 

Rattlesnake, 

David  Maffet, 

Philadelphia. 

Globe, 

John  Murphy, 

Baltimore. 

j     Scourge, 

Samuel  Nicoll, 

New  York. 

Dolphin, 

W.  S.  Stafford, 

Baltimore. 

American, 

Richardson, 

Baltimore. 

Jack's  Favorite. 

Miller, 

New  York. 

Benj.  Franklin, 

Ingersol. 

New  York. 

I  cannot  at  this  moment,  call  to  mind  many  other 
captains  of  privateers  and  lettcrs-of-marque,  who  figured 
conspicuously  in  the  trying  conflict  for  the  liberty  of 
the  seas. 

All  the  persons  here  enumerated  were  captains  in  the 


xlviii 


INTUODICTION. 


morclmiit  service,  and  were  coiiHecjiieiilly  tlirowii  out 
of  cinployinent  by  the  war,  uiid  obligeil  to  coimnand 
thoHo  vessels,  or  remain  inaetivo  spectators  on  shore. 
They,  no  doubt,  lii^e  most  otlier  men,  had  a  double  mo- 
tive in  the  contest,  viz.,  to  bo  remunerated  Cor  tlieir  pri- 
vations, and  to  serve  their  country  in  distressing  the 
enemy,  who  strove  to  drive  them  olV  the  ocean.  Can 
any  man  of  connnon  sense,  inui^ine  that  these  worthy 
men  vvouhl  rislc  their  Hves  an<l  reputation,  lor  a  mere 
mercenary  hire,  without  an  ardent  love  of  their  country, 
and  a  desire  to  revenge  themselves  upon  the  tyrants  of 
the  seas,  who  had  insulted  and  abused  the  most  of  them 
for  maiiv  vears  ?  On  the  contrarv.  tliey  were,  with 
hardly  w  exception,  a  dashing,  brnve  set  of  disinterested 
men,  and  an  honor  to  their  country.  Many  of  their  well- 
fought  battles  and  hair-breadth  escapes,  will  favor- 
ably coinpare  wii'i  our  most  brilliant  naval  engage- 
ments. 

Contrast  the  relu  've  inducements  of  the  officers  of 
the  United  States  navy  and  of  the  captains  of  private- 
armed  ships  and  vessels.  The  former  are  cherished  and 
supported  by  the  whole  nation  ;  have  fame  and  honor 
meted  out  for  every  meritorious  act.  If  wounded,  they 
receive  pensions,  and  are  provided  for  in  sickness  and 
old  age.  Now  look  at  the  other  side  of  the  picture  : 
What  had  the  captains  and  officers  of  privateers  and 
letters-of-marque  to  expect  from  their  country  ?  No- 
thing ;  and  from  the  enemy,  nothing  but  hard  knocks, 
prison-ships,  and  free  lodgings  in  Dartmoor.  Notwith- 
standing the  disadvantages  here  enumerated;  we  have 


often   seen 
where  they 
injuries,  or 
sail(!(l,    and 
I'ountry.     li 
pects  of  a  ei 
would  not  (h 
tlicted  a  scv^ 
It     is    well 
through    the 
tion  of  our  ( 
letters-of-ma 
our  inveterat 
tlieir  adversa 
oven  at  the  e 
itself.     They 
the  North  G 
the  coasts  of 
fiidies,  oirtlu 
the  Pacific  ()< 
annoying  Bri 
could  float,  Y 
property,  anr 
ments  under 
Avith  a  proud, 
is  it  not  aston 
and  gallant  n 
heroic  acts  an 
While  Coni 
sands  of  broac 


INTIIODITTION. 


xlix 


oftcM\  Hoen  tluMu  iMij;jig'm^'  the  ciicmy's  Hliips-ol-wnr, 
whore  they  luid  nothiii*;  to  h(>|i(^  ior  hut  rcvcii^^e  I'or  l)ll^^t 
injuries,  or  I'or  tlic  iioiior  of  the  lla^  midiT  whicli  Ihry 
sailed,  and  their  ardent  allachnient  to  their  beloved 
country.  In  numy  instances  we  iiave  known  their  pro.s- 
peots  of  a  cruise  l)roken  up  iind  ruined  because  they 
would  not  lly  from  their  hau;:;hty  foe  until  ihey  had  in- 
flicted a  severe  punishment  on  Iuh  boasted  superiority. 
It  is  well  known  to  those  Americans  who  lived 
throu^^h  the  war  of  1812,  and  to  all  the  reading  por- 
tion of  our  extensive  (3ountry,  that  the  privateers  and 
Ictters-ot'-marque  were  the  j^reat  thorn  in  the  side  of 
our  inveterate  enemy,  that  they  harassed  and  annoyed 
their  adversaries  in  every  quarter  of  the  ^lobe,  yes,  and 
oven  at  the  entrance  of  their  own  ports,  in  old  I"]ni]^land 
itself.  They  fought  arul  captured  ships  and  vessels  oil* 
the  North  {!?apc,  in  the  British  and  Irish  Channels,  on 
the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  in  the  Kast  and  West 
Indies,  oiV  the  Capes  of  Good  Hope  and  Horn,  and  in 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  In  a  word,  they  wore  liarassingand 
annoying  British  trade  and  commerce  wherever  a  ship 
could  float.  Yes,  they  took  and  destroyed  millions  of 
property,  and  were,  beyond  all  doul)t,  the  happy  instru- 
ments under  God,  in  bringing  about  a  permanent  peace 
Avith  a  proud,  haughty,  overbearing  nation.  And  now 
is  it  not  astonishing  how  soon  the  services  of  these  brave 
and  gallant  men  are  forgotten,  and  how  lightly  their 
heroic  acts  are  appreciated  by  our  general  government? 
While  Congress  has  given  thousands  and  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  broad  acres  to  all  those  individuals  who  fought, 


1 


INTKODl'CTION. 


or  wore  mustered  into  service  in  all  our  wars  since  1790, 
as  a  reward  for  their  services  to  their  country,  not  one 
foot  of  laud,  or  any  other  compensation  has  been  given 
to  privateersmen,  and  those  who  served  in  private  armed 
vessels  in  the  war  of  1812,  or  to  their  widows  and  or- 
phan C!iildren. 

No  wonder  that  tlie  present  generation  does  not  aj)- 
preciatc  their  services,  or  cherish  their  memory  when 
the  Congress  of  the  Ignited  States  neglects  to  notice 
their  claims  on  the  nation. 

1  complain  not  at  what  the  government  has  given  to 
all  those  who  have  served  in  any  war  for  their  country's 
honor  or  interest,  but  1  do  complain  of  the  gross  and 
palpable  injustice  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  towards  those  brave  men,  and  their  widows  and 
oi'phan  children.  Many  of  the  privateersmen,  and  those 
who  served  in  letler.s-of-marque,  suflcred  severely  in 
their  private  fortunes,  many  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  not  a  few  were  t'onfuied  in  filthy  English  prisons. 
And,  what  is  the  reply  to  all  their  petitions?  Why  for- 
sooth, these  men  were  engaged  in  cruising  for  prize- 
money  and  uot  for  the  interest  of  the  country.  That 
assertic.i  is  not  true,  on  the  contrary',  it  is  a  base  slan- 
der upon  the  good  lame  and  fame  of  these  worthy  and 
gallant  defenders  of  their  country's  rights  and  of  its 
honor  and  glory.  ''Tell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in 
the  st' acts  of  Askelon."  The  writer  of  these  pages  asks 
nothing  for  himself,  for,  thank  Clod,  he  has,  through  his 
industr}',  prudence,  and  economy,  sufficient  to  live  on 
in  a  modest,   unpretending  way,   and   wishes    it   to  be 


INTaODUCTION. 


li 


clearly  understood,  that  this  appeal  is  in  behalf  of  the 
few  remaiuinoj  individuals  who  have  survived  the  war, 
the  tempest,  and  the  storm,  and  who  are  now  totterin<i; 
on  the  brink  of  the  grave.  Yes,  it  is  for  them  and  their 
widows  and  orphan  children,  that  I  malcc  this  strong 
and  last  appeal  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
to  do  justice  to  these  much  injured  men  and  their 
families. 

When  the  peace  was  made  with  England,  the  officers 
of  the  navy  used  to  say  among  themselves,  that  they 
were  looked  upon  by  the  people  as  pillars  in  war,  but 
as  caterpillars  in  peace.  If  such  was  the  case  with  them, 
with  what  redoubled  force  will  it  apply  to  the  Captains 
of  Privateers. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  at  present  to  add  any  more 
on  the  subject  of  the  unrequited  claims  of  privateors- 
nien  and  those  who  served  in  private-armed  vessels,  but. 
hope  and  trust  that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
will,  ere  long,  reflect  that  it  is  imwise  and  unjust  to  ex- 
clude those  worthy  and  deserving  })atriots  from  an 
equal  participation  in  the  pid)lic  bounty,  which  has  been 
so  liberally  bestowed  upon  all  other  classes  of  citizfMis, 
who  have  served  their  countr}-  in  any  of  its  wars  during 
the  last  sixty-five  years. 

With  these  closing  remarks,  I  will  now  proceed  to 
enumerate  a  few  of  the  many  wrongs  and  abuses  pra<'- 
ticed  upon  oiu*  conmierce  and  country  l)y  liritish  ships- 
of-war.  fo"  a  period  of  at  least  six  or  eight  years.  For 
it  is  well  known  that  they  took  and  captured  from  us 
more  than  a  thousand  ships  and  vessels  bound  to  France 


Ill 


LVTUODUCTION. 


and  otlior  European  couutrio.s,  while  we  were  at  peace 
with  them.  And  thus  i'roni  time  to  time  they  continued 
to  heap  insult  upon  in.sult,  with  their  men  of  war  lying 
at  the  mouths  of  our  harbors,  and  searching  and  detain- 
ing our  merchant  sliips  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1800,  off  Sandy  Hook,  the 
frigate  Leander  fired  a  cannon-shot  into  a  little  harm- 
less, unarmed  vessel,  by  which  a  seamen  was  killed,  in 
ui;r  own  waters.  This  created  an  immense  sensation, 
and  every  citizen  throughout  the  United  States  felt  that 
it  was  a  gross  insult  to  the  nation.  Spirited  remon- 
strances were  made  by  our  government,  and  reparation 
was  promised  ;  but  the  resentment  of  the  people  had 
scarcely  time  to  cool  down  from  this  outrage,  when,  in 
about  a  year  afterward,  a  dastardly  attack  was  made 
by  the  two-decked  ship-of-war.  Leopard,  upon  tlie 
United  States  fi-igate  Chesapeake,  at  a  period  of  pro- 
found peace,  when,  from  peculiar  causes,  the  latter  ship 
was  in  a  defenceless  state. 

This  cowardly  act  aroused  throughout  the  Union  a 
spirit  of  retaliation,  which  the  government  found  it  dif- 
ficult to  repress.  This  insult,  however,  like  the  one  pre- 
ceding it,  passed  off  without  any  serious  consequences, 
and  it  was  hoped,  by  a  considerable  portion  of  the  peo- 
])le.  that  J']ngland  would  refrain  from  further  aggressions. 
This  hope,  however,  was  delusive,  and  so  far  from 
making  reparation  for  past  injuries,  the  captains  of  our 
merchant  ships  were  often  ill-treated  and  abused  by  up- 
start, sul)altern  officers,  for  daring  to  assert  their  legiti- 
mate rights. 


The  long 

British    gov 

American  f 

from  a  fear 

losses  and  s 

from  a  timic 

open  comba 

ing  of  shedc 

the   nation 

the  same  re 

It  was,  till 

the   question 

and  insult  ? 

We  were  1 
of  parsimony 
few  broadsid 
our  "paltry, 
Our  seamo 
part  of  the  va 
hells;  made  t 
rants  placed 
fusing  to  figh 
at  peace. 

Many  legit 
by  their  pira 
power  to  cio  i 
Their  scun 
us  of  want  o 
them  in  a  cru 
of  Europe. 


111  ■■" 


IXTIIOUUCTION. 


liii 


The  longer  we  sul>initlc(l.  the  more  provoking  the 
British  government  becjinie.  A  large  i)ortion  of  the 
American  people  were  opposed  to  ()})en  warfare  ;  not 
from  a  fear  of  its  ultimate  success,  or  of  the  pecuniary 
losses  and  sacrifices  it  wovdd  necessarily  produce  ;  nor 
from  a  timid  fear  of  meeting  our  adversary  in  fail*  and 
open  combat,  but  from  a  religious  and  conscientious  feel- 
ing of  shedding  human  blood,  more  especially  that  of 
the  nation  from  which  \vc  sprung ;  both  professing 
the  same  religion,  and  speaking  the  same  huignage. 

It  was,  therefore,  a  most  [)erplexiug  alternative,  and 
the  questiou  was,  shall  we  any  longer  submit  to  injuiy 
and  insult  ? 

We  were  taunted  aud  reviled  on  ever}'  side  :  accused 
of  parsimony  aud  cowardice  ;  Englaud  boasting  that  a 
few  broadsides  from  her  "  wooden  Avails  "  would  drive 
our  "paltry,  striped  bunting  "  froui  the  ocean. 

Our  seamen  were  impressed  by  the  English  in  every 
part  of  the  world  ;  dragged  on  board  of  their  floating 
hells;  made  to  serve  against  their  will  the  haughty  ty- 
rants placed  over  them,  and  were  often  flogged  for  re- 
fusing to  fight  against  other  nations  with  whom  we  were 
at  peace. 

Many  legitimate  voyages  were  broken  up  anl  luinel 
b}''  their  piratical  cruisers,  simply  because  they  had  th'.> 
power  to  tio  it. 

Their  scurrilous  newspapers  never  ceased  to  accus.; 
us  of  want  of  spirit,  because  we  would  not  unite  with 
them  in  a  crusade  against  France,  and  the  other  nations 
of  Europe. 


liv 


INTUODICTION. 


Our  appeals  for  jiusticc  were  not  listened  to  ;  remon- 
strances and  diplomatic  negotiations  were  found  use- 
less. Non-intercourse  and  embargoes  were  resorted  to, 
in  order  to  prevent  war  ;  but  the  more  reluctant  we 
were  to  engage  in  open  conflict  and  bloodshed,  the  more 
over-bearing  our  adversary  became. 

At  length,  when  every  resource  to  obtain  justice  was 
(Exhausted,  wo  had  no  choice  left  us  but  to  declare  war 
against  our  opjjressors,  or  tamely  submit  to  degradation, 
not  only  in  our  own  eyes,  but  in  those  of  the  whole  civ- 
ilized world.  • 

In  conclusion,  1  would  say,  that  I  think  no  one,  with 
a  sound  mind,  and  possessed  o^f  honorable  feelings, 
will  doubt  that  if  war  is  right  under  any  circum- 
stances, ours  against  England  in  1812  was  a  righteous 
one. 


Jmencan   |nktcfrs. 


(Iv) 


THE 


Prepauatfon  for 

8MAIX   I'lUVATE 

I'lrriNci  OUT  Fi 

NEW  YORK — A 
VATEERS  DELON 
CAROLINA  —  CO 
BY  A  BRITISH  FL 
LISBON,  VIZ.,  ASI 
CAPTAIN  HULL  A 
FOR  ANOTHER  CI 
THE  COAST  OF  N( 
OF  THE  UNITED  S 
WITH  TUB  GUER 
REMARKS  ON  TH 
BOSTON  — HIS  RI 

Although  tl 

been  gatherir 

looked  dark 

feeling  in  th( 

that  they  woi 

eventually  in 

and  distress  tl 

evitably  prodi 

and  the  conse 

found  the  coui 

or  to  carry  i 

siderable  time 


THE  AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS. 


CHAPTER    I 


PRErAnATION  FOR  WAR  —  DISPATCH  riI,OT  BOAT  TO  COTTENUmO  —  COMMEN'CE  WITH 
SMALL  HUVATEKK3—  HKVERAL  IMUVATKKlia  HAIL  FROM  NEW  YORK  —  VUIVATEERS 
FirriNO  OUT  FROM  THE  EASTERN  STATES  —  TAIJLE  OF  PRIVATEERS  nELONaiNO  TO 
NEW  YORK — AN  EMDAROO  BY  THE  INITEO  STATES  GOVERNMENT TABLE  OP  PRI- 
VATEERS BELONOINa  TO  BALTIMORE  —  PRIVATEERS  FROM  RUODE  ISLAND  AND  SOUTH 
CAROLINA  —  CONSTITUTION,  CAPTAIN  HULL,  OFF  NEW  YORK  —  CONSTITUTION  CHASED 
BY  A  BRITISH  FLEET  —  CHASK  CONTINUED  FOR  THREE  DAYS  —  THREE  SHIPS  SAIL  FROM 
LISBON,  VIZ.,  AMERICA,  ELIZA  ORACIE,  AND  ORONOKO  —  TWO  OF  THEM  CAPTURED  — 
CAPTAIN  HULL  ARRIVES  AT  BOSTON  — HIS  KIND  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE  —  REFITS 
FOR  ANOTHER  CRUISE  —  SAII^S  FROM  BOSTON  ON  THE  2ND  OP  AUGUST  —  CRUISE  OFF 
THE  COAST  OF  NOVA  SCOTIA  —  JOURNAL  OF  HIS  CRUISE  —  ANXIETY  OF  THE  PEOPLE 
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  FOR  THE  FATE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  —  CAPTAIN  HULL  MEETS 
WITH  TUB  GUERRIKRE  ON  THE  19tH  OP  AUGUST  —  DEFEAT  OF  THE  GUERRIERE  — 
REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  TWO  SHIPS — CAPTAIN  HULL  RETURNS  TO 
BOSTON  — UI3  RECEPTION  AT  THAT  PLACE. 


Although  the  clouds  of  war  had,  for  a  long  time, 
been  gathering  in  the  political  horizon,  and  everything 
looked  dark  and  threatening,  still  there  was  a  secret 
feeling  in  the  bosom  of  a  large  portion  of  the  nation 
that  they  would  be  dispelled,  and  that  something  would 
eventually  transpire  to  divert  the  wide-spread  calamity 
and  distress  that  war,  and  its  evil  attendants,  would  in- 
evitably produce.  But,  alas !  this  hope  was  delusive, 
and  the  consequence  was,  when  it  did  actually  arrive,  it 
found  the  country  quite  unprepared  to  meet  the  conflict, 
or  to  carry  it  on  with  energy  and  success  for  a  con- 
siderable time.    We  had  everything  to  do,  and  but  a 


THE   AMERICAN    rUlVATEERS. 


[1812. 


1812.] 


short  lime  to  pcrlbrm  the  work.  The  general  govern- 
ment called  upon  tlie  Slates  for  men  and  money,  and 
requested  tliem  to  organi/e  their  militia,  and  prepare  to 
protect  their  own  States,  and,  if  necessary,  to  march  at 
a  moment's  warning  to  any  jjoint  where  their  services 
might  be  required,  particularly  along  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board. Tlie  AFerchants  were,  of  course,  anxious  to  get 
homo  their  ships  and  vessels  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe  before  they  should  become  a  prey  to  the  enemy. 
Very  soon,  a  small  dispatch  pilot  boat  wls  sent  out  in 
haste  to  Gottenburg,  with  news  of  the  war,  and  with 
directions  to  all  our  commercial  marine  in  the  harbors 
of  Sweden,  Denmark,  Prussia,  and  Russia,  to  remain  in 
port  until  the  war  should  cease.  This  enterprise  fortu- 
nately succeeded,  so  that  the  greatest  part  of  our  ships 
and  vessels  in  the  north  of  Europe  were  saved  from 
capture.  When  the  war  was  declared,  we  had  but  a  few 
sharp,  fast  sailing  clipper  vessels  suited  for  privateers 
and  letters  of  marque.  There  were,  however,  a  few  in 
the  most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  namely,  at  Boston,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore,  and  these  were  brigs 
and  schooners  which  had  been  employed  in  a  sort  of 
forced  running  trade  to  France,  and  to  the  islands  in  the 
West  Indies  :  for  even  before  the  war,  such  vessels  were 
preferred,  on  account  of  their  speed,  to  avoid  the  British 
cruisers,  for  in  numberless  instances  it  happened,  that 
when  our  merchant  vessels  had  made  a  distant  voyage, 
and  were  returning  home  with  the  fruits  of  their  enter- 
prising industry,  they  were  often  detained,  and  some- 
times captured  and  sent  into  British  ports  for  adjudica- 
tion, and  if  permitted  to  escape  condemnation,  their  voy- 
ages were  broken  up,  and  ruined  by  the  exorbitant  ex- 
penses in  what  were  falsely  called  their  courts  of  justice. 
Fortunately,  we  still  had  several  of  these  vessels,  which 


together  w 

ports,  ver^ 

alert,  and  )• 

small  pilot 

search  of  I 

commoidy  ( 

men,  and 

boarding  pi 

any]Jritish 

character  w 

Black  Joke 

Jolmson,  ai 

out  of  the  ] 

only  suitabl 

Florida,  and 

same  course 

eastern  por 

these  privat 

to  cruise  ale 

and  among 

bean  Sea. 

tice  in  the  n 

eastern  Stat 

out  privatee 

and  ten  oth 

well,  and  do 

more  newsp 

that  '*sever£ 

United  Stat( 

sent  to  sea,  c 

ted  and  bett( 

About  the 

declaration  o 

belonging  to 


1812.] 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


8 


together  with  the  pilot  boats  beloiigiiig  to  our  principal 
ports,  very  soon  enabled  our  merchants  to  be  on  the 
alert,  and  i-eady  to  assail  our  adversaiy.  Several  of  these 
small  i)ilot  boats  were  forthwith  dispatched  to  sea  in 
search  of  British  merchantmen.  One  larc;e  centre  gun, 
commonly  called  Long  Tom,  with  a  crew  of  iifty  or  sixty 
men,  and  a  suitable  mnnber  of  muskets,  sabres,  and 
boarding  pikes,  etc.,  was  quite  enough  to  capture  almost 
any  ]Jritish  merchantman,  at  this  stage  of  the  war.  Of  this 
character  were  the  pilot  boats  Teazcr,  Captain  Dobson  ; 
Black  Joke,  Captain  Brown  ;  Jack's  Favourite,  Captain 
Johnson,  and  several  other  privateers,  which  were  fitted 
out  of  the  port  of  New  York.  These  small  vessels  were 
only  suitable  to  make  short  cruises  about  the  Gulf  of 
Florida,  and  among  the  islands  in  the  West  Indies.  The 
same  course  was  pursued  by  Boston,  Salem,  and  other 
eastern  ports.  At  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
these  privateers  from  the  eastern  ports  were  dispatched 
to  cruise  along  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  Newfoundland, 
and  among  the  British  Windward  Islands  in  the  Carib- 
bean Sea.  On  the  1st  of  July,  I  find  the  following  no- 
tice in  the  newspapers  of  that  day :  "  The  peo^ile  in  the 
eastern  States  are  laboring  almost  night  and  day  to  fit 
out  privateers.  Two  have  already  sailed  from  Salem, 
and  ten  others  are  getting  ready  for  sea.  This  looks 
well,  and  does  credit  to  our  eastern  friends."  A  Balti- 
more newspaper,  dated  July  the  4th,  1812,  remarks 
that  "  several  small,  swift  privateers,  will  sail  from  the 
United  States  in  a  few  days.  Some  have  already  been 
sent  to  sea,  and  many  others  of  a  larger  class,  better  fit- 
ted and  better  equipped,  wiU  soon  follow." 

About  the  middle  of  October,  say  four  months  after  the 
declaration  of  war,  I  find  the  following  list  of  privateers 
belonging  to  the  port  of  New  York  alone. 


THE   AMRRICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


1812. 


PRIVATEERB. 

CAPTAINS. 

L.  TOMS. 

GUNS. 

MICN. 

Teuzcr 

Dohson 

1 

2 

flO 

Paul  Jones 

Hazard 

1 

16 

120 

Marengo 

Ridois 

1 

G 

Hi) 

Engle 

Boaufon 

— 

1 

ir, 

RoHamond 

Campan 

1 

12 

132 

Benjamin  Franklin 

Ingersol 

1 

8 

120 

Black  Joke 

Brown 

1 

2 

60 

Rover 

Ferris 

1 

1 

3.5 

Orders  in  Council 

Howard 

— 

16 

120 

Saratoga 

Riker 

— 

18 

140 

United  We  Stand 

Storey 

1 

2 

50 

Divided  We  Fall 

Crop  Hey 

1 

2 

50 

Governor  Tompkins 

Skinner 

1 

14 

143 

Retaliation 

Newson 

1 

6 

100 

Spitfire 

Miller 

1 

2 

54 

General  Armstrong 

Barnard 

1 

18 

140 

Jack's  Fav    ite 

Johnson 

1 

4 

80 

Yorktown 

Storey 

— 

18 

160 

Tartar 

King 

1 

6 

80 

Halkar 

Rowland 

^— 

16 

160 

Anaconda 

Shaler 

16 

160 

Patriot 

Merrihew 

1 

2 

50 

Union 

Hicks 

— _ 

1 

24 

Turn  Over 

Southmead 

— 

1 

50 

Right  of  Search 

1 

— 

60 

Bunker  Hill 

Lewis 

1 

4 

Twenty-six. 

18 

194 

2233 

At  this  period  there  was  quite  a  number  of  large  brigs 
and  schooners,  on  the  pilot-boat  construction,  being  built 
at  New  York,  and  also  at  different  ports  in  Connecticut. 


1H12.J 


THE    AMKUICAN    IMUVATEERS. 


Oil  the  3(1  of  April,  1812,  sovoiity-five  dayH  provioua 
to  the  (Iccliiration  of  war,  the  AiucM'ican  (jlovonmicut 
Avisely  laid  aii  embar;^o  on  all  Ainoricaii  ships  and  vcs- 
soIh  ill  our  own  ports,  which  Judicious  law  doubtless  j)ro- 
vontod  a  largo  amount  of  property  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  our  onomics. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  quote  from  a  Haiti  more  paper 
of  the  same  date,  the  number  of  privateers  and  letters  of 
marcpio  belonging  to  that  place.  The  list  is  as  fol- 
lows : — 


SCnOONGRS. 


RoBBio 
Comet 
Dolphin 
Nonsuch 
nigh  Flyer 
Globe 
America 
Bona 
Tom 
Sparrow 
Revenge 
Rolla 

Joseph  and  Mary- 
Wasp 
Sarah  Ann 
Liberty 
Hornet 


CArTATNS. 


Barney 

Boyle 

Stafford 

Levoly 

Grant 

Murphy 

Richardson 

Damorson 

Wilson 

Burch 

Miller 

Doolcy 

Wescott 

Taylor 

Moon 

Pratt 

Frost 


1 

L.  TOMS. 

i 

a 

1 

VA 

1:20 

2 

12 

I:i0 

2 

10 

100 

— 

12 

100 

1 

7 

100 

1 

7 

00 

2 

14 

ll.O 

1 

6 

80 

2 

14 

130 

1 

5 

80 

2 

14 

140 

1 

5 

80 

2 

4 

83 

1 

1 

50 

1 

1 

50 

1 

1 

50 

1 

1 

50 

MKTAI,. 


12'h  24's     O'h 

9*8  12'h 

O'h  l-i's     G's 
I2's 
I2's     6'8 

O'h  12's   18's 

9's  24's     G's 
12*8     G's 
13's  18'8     9's 
12's     G's 

8's  12*8  24'b 
12'h 
18  &  24  poun. 

9  poun. 

9      " 

9      " 

9      " 


Notwithstanding  the  numerous  British  ships  of  war  on 
our  coast  and  off  the  entrance  of  our  harbors,  a  great 


6 


THE   AMERICAN   miVATKKRS. 


[1812. 


portion  of  our  mei' 'Imut  .ships  jind  vos.moIs  wore  fortii- 
imto  enou^li  to  (.'Viido  ciiptiirc  l)y  tlio  cMioiny,  and  got 
safe  into  port,  wlicrc  tliuy  woro  goiiorully  diNiimiitlod 
and  laid  up  during  tlio  wur.  Tlii.s  cinHUMstiincj  ouubled 
the  conmiandci'H  of  privateor.s  and  k>tlor.s-or-niar([uo  to 
obtain  Hcanion  to  man  tlicni,  and  together  ^Yitll  a  .sulliciont 
iiumbor  of  landsnion  for  niarinoy,  Uiey  wcru  Boon  roudy 
for  a  cruise. 

In  adflition  to  the  pj-ivatcorH,  there  wore  at  sea  twenty- 
five  fast  saiHng  letter-of-niarque  scliooners,  carrying  from 
six  to  ten  guns,  and  from  thirty  to  iilty  men  each,  ex- 
clusive of  ollicers.  Besides  what  lias  been  ah'eady  emi- 
merated,  there  were  ten  hu-ge  schooners,  on  tlie  pilot 
boat  construction,  three  of  which  were  from  three 
hundred  and  thirty  to  tln-ce  hundred  and  fifty  tons 
burden.  T'ley  were  probably  the  largest  vessels  ever 
built  of  this  description.  Baltimore  had  sent  to  sea 
since  the  declai'ation  of  war  forty-two  armed  vessels, 
carrying  about  three  hundred  and  thirty  guns,  and  from 
2,800  to  3,000  men.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  up  to 
this  date  not  one  of  our  privateers  had  been  captured, 
though  frequently  chased  1)y  Britisli  vessels  of  war. 
And  hero  I  would  observe,  that  although  Baltimore  took 
the  lead  in  fitting  out  privateers  and  letters  of  marque, 
and  was  more  active  and  patriotic  in  annoying  the 
enemy  than  most  other  cities  in  the  United  States,  still 
I  add  with  pleasure  that  the  same  spirit  was  evinced  in 
most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  for  even  the  small  commer- 
cial cities  furnished  more  or  less  of  these  enterprising, 
mischievous  privateers.  Witness  the  famous  privateer 
Yankee  and  several  others  from  Bristol,  Rhode  Island, 
and  the  notorious  little  schooner  Saucy  Jack  from 
Charleston,  S.  C,  beside  the  large  and  famous  privateer- 
schooner   Decatur,    Captain  Dominique   Diron   of  the 


1812.J 


THE   AMi:UICAN    rUlVATKKUS. 


samo  port ;  both  of  wliicli  vessels  I  slmll  take  occasion 
to  notice  in  IIkmi*  [»r()[n'i'  [)la('e. 

The  reader  will  observe  by  tlu'se  preliminary  observa- 
tions that  a  portion  of  the  snuill  privateers  and  lelters- 
of-nuir(pie  wen^  sent  to  sea  to  cruise  for  liritisli  ini>r- 
(iliantnien  a  few  weeks  after  the  declaration  of  war,  and 
that  nnnierons  larger  ones  were  preparin 


to  foil 


ow  ni 


tho 
same  pursuit. 

Tlu>y  were  all,  of  course,  commissioned  by  the  [-nited 
States  Government  to  take,  burn,  sink  and  destroy  the 
enemy  wherever  ho  could  bo  found,  either  on  the  high 
seas  or  in  IJritish  ports. 

1  will  iheref(n-e  leave  theiu  for  tho  i)resent  to  annoy 
tlie  foe,  and  attempt  to  give  an  account  of  tho  esca[)e  of 
the  frigate  Constitution,  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  from  a 
British  licet  ofl'  tho  west  end  of  Long  Island,  in  al)out 
twenty-live  fathoms  water,  just  out  of  sight  of  land. 

But  before  I  i)rococd  further  on  tho  subject  I  shall 
digress  a  little,  and  make  a  few  preliminary  observations, 
hi  order  to  bring  up  tho  witnesses  of  this  interesting 
chase  frcnu  both  parties,  and,  like  old  Mrs.  Slipslop  in  tho 
play,  "  go  on  to  tell  tho  story  in  my  own  way."  At  this 
period,  tho  writer  of  these  pages  commanded  a  merchant 
ship  called  tho  America,  and  was  then  in  Lisbon,  in  which 
port  wore  quite  a  number  of  American  merchant  ships 
and  vessels  bound  to  tho  United  States.  And,  though 
there  was  no  certainty  that  war  would  soon  bo  declared, 
still  there  was  much  excitement  on  tho  subject,  and  all  wore 
anxious  to  return  home  for  fear  of  capture.  There  wore 
at  that  time  four  largo  ships,  belonging  to  the  house  of 
Archibald  Gracio  k  Sons,  of  Now  York,  lying  in  this 
port,  viz.,  tho  Briganza,  Eliza  Gracio,  Oronoko,  and  tho 
America.  Tho  last  three  of  these  ships,  together  with 
many  other  merchant  vessels,  sailed  out  of  tho  Tagus 


8 


THE    AMKUICAN    PRIVATKEUS. 


[1812. 


1812.J 


with  a  fine,  fresh,  easterly  breeze,  oa  the  14th  of  June, 
1812,  all  bound  to  their  respective  por^j  in  the  United 
States. 

During  the  first  day  out  there  was  no  material  differ- 
ence  in  the  saihng  of  the  three  ships.  We  all  pushed 
to  the  westward  taking  about  the  same  course.  At 
nightfall,  I  cdgefl  the  ship  off  a  couple  of  points  to  the 
southward  in  order  to  get  clear  of  the  fleet,  wishing 
to  pursue  my  destihy  alone,  whether  for  weal  or  woe, 
and, at  daylight  the'next  morning  there  was  nothing  in 
sight.  We  had  favorable  winds  for  several  days  and 
proceeded  rapidly  on  our  course  until  we  reached  lat. 
40°  10' North,  longitude  32'^  West,  that  is  to  say  a  Httle 
to  the  west  of  the  Western  Islands.  There  we  met  with 
light  airs  and  calms,  which  continued  for  five  consecutive 
days.  During  that  time  we  did  not  make  fi+'ty  miles 
distance.  The  calm  weather  which  I  at  this  time  con- 
sidered as  a  great  misfortune,  proved  in  the  result  the 
salvation  of  the  ship.  The  two  other  ships  viz.,  the  Eliza 
Gracie,  Captain  James  Brown,  and  the  Oronoko,  Captain 
John  Richards,  steered  their  ships  on  a  more  northerly 
parallel,  and  had  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  north-east, 
while  my  ship  lay  becalmed  for  nearly  a  week.  And 
thus,  while  I  fortunately  escaped  the  enemy,  they  fell  in 
with  a  British  fleet  from  Halifax,  bound  to  the  westward 
to  cruise  off  the  por:  of  New  York,  with  the  intention, 
no  doubt,  of  intercepting  and  capturing  American  men- 
of-war  and  merchant  vessels  bound  into  that  port. 

This  fleet  was  composed  of  the  following  ships,  viz., 
the  Africa,  64,  Captain  Bastard ;  Shannon,  38,  Captain 
Broke,  senior  officer  of  th,  j  squadron  ;  the  Guerriere,  38, 
Captain  Dacres ;  Belvidera,  36,  Captain  Byron,  and  the 
-(Eolus,  32,  Captain  Lord  James  Townsend. 

All  these  ships  were  united  at  this  time  in  the  hope  of 


falling  in  v 

a  small  sqi 

three  days 

Eliza  Grac; 

knew  noth 

sorrow  tha 

inovhig  th( 

they  burnc( 

sent  the  0 

currcd  abo 

by  the  befo 

tiition.     Th 

frigate  are 

^'ork,  on  b( 

Rodgers,  or 

men  witnes 

with  the  mo 

and  escape 

personally  a 

of  Captain  I 

seamanship, 

rative. 

On  the  12 
and  on  the  1 
Delaware,  ai 
ing  along  tl 
distance  froi 
northward,  i 
sounded  in  1 
an  hour  aftc 
At  four,  dis< 
eastward,  wl 
being  further 
the  other  fo 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


9 


falling  in  with  Commodore  lloclgoi-fc'  who  liad  sailed  with 
a  small  squadron  from  New  York  on  the  21  si  of  June, 
three  days  after  the  declaration  of  war.  When  the 
ICliza  Gracie  and  the  Oronoko  fell  in  with  this  Ileet,  they 
knew  nothing  of  the  war,  but  they  soon  found  to  their 
sorrow  that  they  were  all  prisoners  of  war.  After  re- 
moving the  captains,  officers  and  crews  from  the  ships, 
they  burned  the  Eliza  Gracie  (a  beautiful  new  ship)  and 
sent  the  Oronoko  into  Halifax.  This  circumstance  oc- 
curred about  a  week  pre\  ions  to  the  memorable  chase 
by  the  before-named  English  fleet  of  the  frigate  Consti- 
tution. The  witnesses  of  the  pursuit  and  escape  of  that 
frigate  are  as  follows  :  Captain  James  Brown  of  New 
York,  on  board  of  the  Shannon ;  Captains  Richards  and 
llodgers,  on  board  of  the  other  frigates.  These  gentle- 
men witnessed  the  whole  proceedings  of  both  parties 
with  the  most  intense  interest  and  anxiety  for  the  honor 
and  escape  of  the  Constitution.  They  related  to  me 
personally  all  they  saw  and  felt  during  the  whole  period 
of  Captain  Hull's  unparalleled  nautical  skill,  and  masterly 
seamanship,  which  I  will  relate  in  the  course  of  this  nar- 
rative. 

On  the  12th  of  July  the  Constitution  left  Annapolis, 
and  on  the  IGth  of  the  same  month  left  the  capes  of  the 
Delaware,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight  of  the  land,  steer- 
ing along  the  coast  towards  Sandy  Hook,  at  no  great 
distance  from  the  shore,  with  a  light  breeze  from  the 
northward,  under  easy  sail.  On  the  17th,  at  one  p.m., 
sounded  in  twenty-two  fathoms  of  water,  and  in  about 
an  hour  after  made  four  large  sail  to  the  northward. 
At  four,  discovered  a  fifth  sail  tc  the  northward  and 
eastward,  which  looked  like  a  man-of-war.  This  ship 
being  further  to  the  eastward,  and  a  little  detached  from 
the  other  four,  the  Constitution  made  sail,  and  at  six 


10 


THE   AMEKICAN    PIUVATEERS. 


[1812. 


P.M.,  the  wind  being  light  from  the  southward,  the  Con- 
stitution now  wore  round  with  her  head  to  the  eastward, 
which  brought  her  to  tlie  windward  of  the  enemy.  She 
then  set  her  light  studding  sails  and  stay  sails,  and  at 
half-past  seven  p.m.,  towards  evening,  beat  to  quarters 
and  cleared  ship  for  action,  in  hopes  of  cutting  off  the 
nearest  ship.  The  wind  continued  very  light  from  the 
southward,  and  the  two  ships  were  slowly  nearing  each 
other  until  eight  o'clock.  At  ten,  the  Constitution 
shortened  sail  and  showed  the  private  signal  of  the  day. 
After  keeping  the  lights  aloft  for  about  an  hour,  and 
receiving  no  answer  from  the  British  frigate,  the  Consti- 
tution, at  a  quarter  past  eleven,  took  in  the  signal  lights 
and  made  sail  again,  haulhig  aboard  her  starboard  tacks, 
and  stood  to  the  eastward  under  easy  sail.  During  the 
whole  of  the  middle  watch  the  wind  was  light  from  the 
southward  tuid  westward.  Just  as  the  morning  watch 
was  called,  the  frigate,  which  subsequently  proved  to  be 
the  Guerriere,  tacked,  and  then  wore  entirely  round, 
threw  a  rocket  and  fired  two  guns,  no  doubt  as  a  signal 
to  the  rest  of  the  British  fieet  that  an  enemy's  frigate 
was  near.  As  the  day  dawned,  three  of  the  enemy's 
ships  were  seen  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  Consti- 
sution,  and  two  were  astern.  This,  then,  was  the 
squadron  of  Commodore  Broke,  all  of  which  had  been 
gradually  closing  with  the  American  frigate  during  the 
night,  and  was  now  just  out  of  long  gun-shot.  As  the 
mist  of  the  morning  entirely  cleared  away,  the  Constitu- 
tion found  she  had  two  frigates  on  her  lee  quarter  and  a 
ship-of-the-line,  two  frigates,  a  brig,  and  a  schooner 
astern.  All  these  ships  and  vessels  had  English  colors 
flying,  and  immediately  gave  chase  to  the  American 
frigate.  It  soon,  however,  fell  quite  calm,  and  now 
came  the  tug  of  war.     All  the  fleet  were  in  hot  pursuit, 


1812.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


11 


and  the  trial  commcncccl  of  seamanship,  skill  and  nau- 
tical activity  ;  in  fine,  every  feeling  of  national  honor 
and  jirdent  patriotism  was  aroused  and  brought  into 
requisition  on  both  sides.  And  this  was  soon  to  be  the 
grand  crisis,  whether  we  should  lose  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war  one  of  our  finest  frigates,  or  whether  she 
should  escape  and  hereafter  shed  a  halo  of  glory  on 
the  Hag  under  which  she  sailed,  and  on  the  nation  to 
whom  she  belonged.  Every  arm  was  nerved,  and  every 
heart  beat  high  for  the  honor  of  both  the  belligerent 
parties. 

The  Constitution  hoisted  out  her  boats,  and  sent  them 
ahead  to  tow  the  ship  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
shot.  Four  of  her  long  twenty-fours  were  run  out  as 
stern  chasers,  viz.,  two  on  the  gun-deck,  and  two  on  the 
spar  deck.  Although  it  was  found  necessary  to  cut 
away  some  of  the  wood-work  of  the  stern  frame,  in 
order  to  make  room  to  work  the  guns,  still  this  was  soon 
done,  and  no  time  lost.  While  the  boats  were  towing 
ahead.  Captain  Hull  discovered  that  the  Shannon,  one  of 
the  enemy's  swiftest  ships,  had  not  only  all  her  own  boats 
ahead  towing,  but  was  assisted  by  a  number  from  the 
other  ships.  As  it  was  quite  calm,  the  Shannon  ap- 
peared to  gain  a  little  on  the  chase.  Sooa  after,  the 
Shannon,  being  the  headmost  ship,  began  firing  her  bow 
guns,  which  she  kept  up  for  about  ten  or  fifteen  minutes, 
when  finding  her  shot  fall  short,  she  ceased  firing.  And 
now  what  should  be  done  to  widen  the  distance  between 
the  pursuers  and  the  pursued  ?  It  was  evident  to  Capt. 
Hull  and  his  officers  that  the  superior  number  of  towing 
boats  w^ould  soon  endanger  them  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy's  whole  fleet.  It  then  occurred  to  him  to  sound, 
which  was  done  at  half-past  six  p.m.  When  it  was  found 
that  they  were  in  twenty -six  fathoms  of  water,  the  Cou- 


12 


THE     AMERICAN     PIIIVATEERS. 


fl8]2. 


stitution  mustered  her  hawsers  and  all  the  spare  rope 
that  could  be  found  fit  for  the  purpose.  They  were 
then  payed  down  into  the  cutters,  when  a  kedge  was 
run  out  a  long  distance  ahead  and  let  go.  The  crew  then 
clapped  on  and  walked  away  with  the  ship  with  such 
life  and  animation  that  the  enemy  was  astonished  how 
the  Constitution  could  leave  them  so  fast,  having  not 
half  the  number  of  boats  that  were  towing  the  Sliannon. 
And  thus  while  one  kedge  was  run  up,  another  was 
carried  ahead.  In  this  manner  the  enemy's  ships  were 
fast  losing  ground. 

My  friend  Captain  Brown,  who  was  a  prisoner  on 
board  the  Shannon,  told  me  that  with  a  spy-glass  he 
soon  discovered  what  was  going  on  on  board  the  Consti- 
tution, but  of  course  he  kept  the  secret  to  himself.  He 
said,  however,  that  some  hours  after  this,  an  officer  with 
a  glass  from  aloft  discovered  that  the  American  frigate 
was  kedging.  They  also  resorted  to  the  same  expedient, 
but,  alas !  their  knowledge  came  too  late.  The  same 
gentleman  said  it  was  amusing  to  hear  Captain  Broke  and 
his  officers  converse  about  the  Yankee  frigate.  At  one 
period  of  the  chase  they  were  so  confident  of  capturing 
her  that  a  prize  officer  and  crew  were  already  appointed 
to  conduct  her  in  triumph  to  Halifax.  To  all  their 
questions  of  taking  the  Constitution,  Captain  Brown  had 
but  one  answer  to  .make,  and  that  was,  "  Gentlemen, 
you  will  never  take  that  frigate." 

At  half-past  seven  in  the  evening,  the  Constitution 
was  fUvored  with  a  light  air,  when  she  set  her  ensign, 
and  fired  a  shot  at  the  Shannon,  the  nearest  ship  astern. 
At  eight,  it  fell  calm  again,  when  further  recourse  was 
had  to  the  boats,  and  kedging.  At  nine,  the  Shannon, 
on  which  the  English  had  put  most  of  their  boats,  was 
fast  nearing  the  Constitution  again.     There  was  now  a 


1812.] 

fair  prospc( 
of  Captain 
the   Shann( 
ship,  when 
be  inovitab 

At  this 

whole  ship'f 

Captain  Hu 

forced  into 

to  silence  h( 

also  that  th 

boats,  as  it  v 

stern  guns, 

the  least  disj 

other  regulai 

the  officers  c 

at  their  gun^ 

But  now  1: 

chase.     The 

almost  as  net 

more  promise 

when  sudden 

to  send  a  ligl 

ship  and  th-jg 

ries.    The  ma 

was  truly  a  b 

exciting  to  m 

even  in  the  be 

the  sails  wer( 

that  Old  Iror 

thing  of  life. 

As  soon  as 

to  the  wind  o 

porarily  hoist 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN     FuIVATEEIlS. 


13 


fair  prospect,  notwithstanding  the  steadiness  and  activity 
of  Captain  Hull  and  his  gallant  oflicers  and  crow,  that 
the  Shannon  would  get  near  enough  to  cripple  their 
ship,  when  her  capture  by  the  rest  of  the  squadron  would 
be  inevitable. 

At  this  trying  moment,  the  best  spirit  inspired  the 
whole  ship's  company.  Everything  was  stoppered,  and 
Captain  Hull  was  not  without  hope  that  should  he  even  be 
forced  into  action  by  the  Shannon  that  he  would  be  able 
to  silence  her,  and  still  escape  from  the  fleet.  He  knew 
also  that  the  enemy  dare  not  venture  too  near  with  his 
boats,  as  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  sink  them  with  his 
stern  guns,  so  that  neither  his  officers  nor  men  showed 
the  least  disposition  to  despondency.  They  relieved  each 
other  regularly  at  the  trying  duty  of  the  ship,  and,  while 
the  officers  caught  short  naps  on  deck,  the  seamen  slept 
at  their  guns. 

But  now  had  arrived  the  most  critical  moment  of  the 
chase.  The  Shannon  was  fast  closing,  the  Guerriere  was 
almost  as  near  on  the  larboard  quarter,  so  that  one  hour 
more  promised  to  bring  the  long  struggle  to  an  issue  ; 
when  suddenly,  at  nine  minutes  past  nine,  it  pleased  God 
to  send  a  light  air  from  the  southward  which  struck  the 
ship  and  tlrjs  brought  her  to  windward  of  her  adversa- 
ries. The  manner  in  which  this  advantage  was  improved 
was  truly  a  beautiful  sight,  and  must  have  been  highly 
exciting  to  nautical  men,  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  so 
even  in  the  bosom  of  the  enemy.  As  the  wind  increased 
the  sails  were  trimmed  to  the  breeze,  and  it  was  then 
that  Old  Ironsides  walked  away  from  the  enemy  like  a 
thing  of  life. 

As  soon  as  she  was  under  command  and  brought  up 
to  the  wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  the  boats  were  tem- 
porarily hoisted  to  their  places.     As  the  Constitution 


14 


THE     AMERICAN     PIUVATEERS. 


[1812. 


canio  by  the  wind,  slio  brouglit  tiio  Griicrricrc  iiciirly  on 
her  Ice  Lcjini,  wlien  Unit  iVigato  ojicncd  a  lire  Iroiii  her 
broadside,  but  being  at  so  great  a  distance,  her  sliot  fell 
harmless  into  the  water.  In  about  an  hour,  however,  it 
fell  calm  again,  when  Captain  Hull  ordered  a  quantity  of 
water  to  be  started,  hi  order  to  lighten  the  ship.  More 
than  two  thousand  gallons  were  pumped  out,  and  the 
boats  were  sent  ahead  to  tow.  The  enemy  now  put 
nearly  all  the  boats  of  the  fleet  on  the  Shannon,  the 
nearest  ship  astern.  A  few  hours  of  prodigious  exertion 
followed  ;  the  crew  of  the  Constitution  being  obliged  to 
supply  the  jilace  of  numbers  by  their  activity  and  zeal. 
The  ships  \vevc  close-haul  upon  the  wind,  and  every  sail 
that  would  (b'aw  was  sot,  but  still  the  Shannon  was  slowly 
but  steadily  forging  ahead. 

About  noon  this  day,  there  was  a  little  relaxation  from 
labor,  owing  to  the  occasional  occurrence  of  light  airs  or 
cats-paws.  By  watching  these  baflling  airs  closely,  the 
ship  was  urged  gently  through  the  water,  but  at  a  quar- 
ter past  twelve  the  toilsome  work  of  towing  and  kedging 
was  renewed.  At  one  o'clock  a  strange  sail  was  dis- 
covered, nearly  to  leeward.  At  the  same  time  the  four 
frigates  of  the  enemy  were  about  one  point  on  the  lee 
quarter  of  the  Constitution,  at  long  gun-shot  distance, 
the  Africa  and  the  two  prizes  being  on  the  lee  beam. 
As  the  wind  was  constantly  baffling,  any  moment  might 
have  brought  a  change  and  placed  the  enemy  to  wind- 
ward. At  seven  minutes  before  two,  the  Belvidcra,  then 
the  nearest  ship,  began  to  fire  with  her  bow  guns,  and 
the  Constitution  opened  with  her  stern-chasers.  On 
board  the  latter  ship,  it  was  however  soon  found  to  be 
dangerous  to  use  the  main-deck  guns  from  the  cabin 
windows — the  transoms  having  so  much  rake,  the  win- 
dows so  high  and  the  guns  so  short,  that  every  explosion 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


15 


lifted  tlio  upper  deck,  and  threatened  to  blow  out  the 
stei'n  frame.  Perceiving,  moreover,  that  his  shot  did  lit- 
tle or  no  execution,  Captain  Ilull  ordered  the  firing  to 
cease,  at  half  past  two. 

For  several  hours  the  enemy's  frigates  were  nearly 
within  gun-shot ;  sometimes  towing  and  kcdging,  and  at 
others  endeavoring  to  close  with  the  light  pull's  of  air 
that  occasionally  passed.  At  seven  o'clock  in  the  eve- 
ning, the  boats  of  the  Constitution  were  again  ahead ; 
the  ship  steering  S.W.  ^  W.  with  an  air  so  light  as  to  be 
almost  imperceptible.  At  half  past  seven,  she  sounded 
in  twenty-four  fathoms.  For  four  hours  the  same  toil- 
some duty  was  going  on,  until  a  little  before  eleven,  when 
a  light  air  from  the  southward  struck  the  ship,  and  the 
sails,  for  the  first  time  in  many  weary  hours,  were  asleep. 
The  boats  instantly  dropped  alongside,  hooked  on,  and 
were  all  run  uj"),  with  the  exception  of  the  first  cutter. 
The  toji-gallant  studdhig  sails  and  stay  sails  were  set,  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  for  about  an  hour  the  people  caught 
a  little  rest.  But  at  midnight  it  fell  calm  again,  though 
neither  the  pursuers  nor  the  pursued  had  recourse  to 
the  boats,  probably  from  their  unwillingness  to  disturb 
their  crews. 

At  two  A.M.  it  was  observed  on  board  the  Constitution 
that  the  Guerriere  had  forged  ahead,  nid  was  again  on 
their  leebeam.  At  this  time,  the  top-gallant  studding- 
sails  were  taken  in.  In  this  manner  passed  the  night, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day  it  was  found  that 
three  of  the  enemy's  frigates  were  within  long  gun  shct, 
on  the  lee  quarter,  and  the  other  at  about  the  same  dis- 
tance on  the  lee  beam.  The  Africa  and  the  prizes  were 
much  further  to  leeward.  A  little  after  daylight,  the 
Guerriere,  having  drawn  ahead  sufficiently  to  be  forward 
of  the  beam  of  the  Constitution,  tacked,  Avhen  the  latter 


16 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


1812.] 


ship  did  tlio  same,  in  order  lo  pi'oscrvo  her  ixKsitiou  to 
windward.  An  liour  later,  llic  yKohus  j)aH.sed  on  the 
contrary  tack,  so  near  that  it  was  tliought  by  some  wlio 
observul  tlic  movement  tliat  slie  ought  to  have  ojjened 
her  fire  upon  tl»e  (Constitution.  But  as  that  vessel  was 
only  a  twelve-poimdcr  frigate,  and  she  was  still  at  a  con- 
siderable distance,  it  is  very  probable  her  commander 
acted  judiciously. 

By  this  time  there  was  sufficient  wind  to  induce 
Captain  Hull  to  hoist  in  his  first  cutter.  The  scene  on 
the  morning  of  this  day  was  beautiful  in  the  extreme. 
The  weather  was  mild  and  lovely,  the  sea  was  as 
smooth  as  a  mill-pond.  There  was  quite  wind  enough 
to  remove  the  necessity  of  any  extraordinary  ineans  of 
getting  ahead,  that  had  been  so  freely  used  during  the 
previous  eight  and  forty  hours.  All  the  English  ships 
were  on  the  same  tack  Avith  the  Constitution,  and  thehve 
frigates  had  everything  set  from  their  trucks  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  apr)earcd  like  beautiful  white  clouds  as  they 
gently  ploughed  through  the  unruflled  deep.  Including 
the  American  frigate,  eleven  sail  were  in  sight,  and 
shortly  after  a  twelfth  appeared  to  windward,  which  was 
soon  ascertained  to  be  an  American  merchantman.  But 
the  enemy  was  too  intent  on  capturing  the  Constitution 
to  regard  any  thing  else,  and  though  it  would  have  been 
easy  to  take  the  ships  to  leeward,  no  attention  appears 
to  have  been  paid  to  them.  With  a  view,  however,  to 
deceive  the  ship  to  windward,  they  hoisted  American 
colors,  when  the  Constitution  set  an  English  ensign  by 
way  of  warning  the  stranger  to  keep  aloof  from  the 
fleet. 

Until  ten  o'clock  the  Constitution  was  making  every 
preparation  to  carry  sail  hard,  should  it  become  neces- 
sary, and  now  sounded  in  twenty  fathoms  of  water.     At 


noon  the 
though  it 
gained  on 
tlian  other 
vessel  was 
tant  about 
two  other 
five  miles, 
the  opposit 
Tills  was 
that  had  e 
officers  and 
the  decks. 
38°  47'  Noi 
73°  57'  We 
pleasant  brc 
rippling  unc 
this  inomen 
drew  ahead 
and  tended  i 
manship  cou 
more  than  f 
left  behind  ii 
again  becomi 
In  this  ma 
to  windward 
change  of  wi 
At  a  little  be 
of  a  heavy  sc 
tion  prepared 
which  had  be 
The  men  wer( 
the  last  momc 
ship,  the  order 
2 


1812.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


17 


noon  the  wind  died  away  again  to  a  niodoriito  broe/o, 
Ihougli  it  was  Ibund  wliilo  tlie  wind  lasted  that  mIio  had 
gained  on  all  the  enemy's  ships  ;  more,  iiowcver,  on  some 
than  others.  The  nearest  ship  was  the  Belvidera,  which 
vessel  was  exactly  in  the  wake  of  the  Constitnlion,  dis- 
tant abont  two-and-a-half  n.lles,  bearing  N.N.W.  The 
two  other  frigates  were  on  the  lee  qnarter,  distant  abont 
five  miles,  and  the  Africa  was  hull  down  to  leeward  on 
the  opposite  tack. 

This  was  a  vast  improvement  on  the  state  of  things 
that  had  existed  the  previous  day,  and  it  allowed  the 
oflicers  and  men  to  catch  a  little  rest,  though  no  one  left 
the  decks.  The  latitude,  by  observation  this  day,  was 
38°  4*7'  North,  and  the  longitude,  by  dead  reckoning, 
73°  57'  West.  At  meridian  the  wind  began  to  blow  a 
pleasant  breeze,  and  the  sound  of  the  water  was  heard 
rippling  under  the  bows  of  the  noble  old  ship.  From 
this  moment  the  Constitution  slowly,  though  steadily, 
drew  ahead  of  all  her  pursuers,  every  sail  was  watched 
and  tended  in  the  best  manner  that  experience  and  sea- 
manship could  dictate.  At  four  p.m.,  the  Belvidera  was 
more  than  four  miles  astern,  and  the  other  ships  were 
left  behind  in  the  same  proportion,  though  the  wind  had 
again  become  very  light. 

In  this  manner  both  parties  kept  pressing  ahead  and 
to  windward  as  fast  as  possible,  profiting  by  every  little 
change  of  wind  to  force  their  ships  through  the  water. 
At  a  little  before  seven  a.m.  there  was  every  appearance 
of  a  heavy  squall  attended  by  rain,  when  the  Constitu- 
tion prepared  to  meet  it  with  the  coolness  and  discretion 
which  had  been  displayed  throughout  the  whole  afTair. 
The  men  were  stationed,  and  everything  was  kept  fast  to 
the  last  moment,  when,  just  before  the  squall  struck  the 
ship,  the  order  was  given  to  "clew  up"  and  "clew  down." 


18 


Tin;  AMi;iucAN  rKivATi;i:us. 


[IbliJ. 


Tn  iiti  instant  all  (ho  li^lit  nails  were  furled,  the  miz/en- 
top.sail  was  reel'e(l,  and  the  Hhip  broii;^iit  under  short  sail 
ill  a  few  minutes.  The  Kn^j^lish  s]iii)S  saw  the  thieaten- 
ing  force  of  the  squall  ;  without  wailing  for  the  wind, 
began  to  "lew  up  and  haul  down,  and  keep  oil'  from  the 
wind,  so  that  when  tlie  rain  subsided  and  the  weatlier 
cleared  a  little,  tliey  were  seen  steering  in  dillerent 
directions.  On  the  other  hand,  after  the  Constitution 
had  received  the  force  of  the  squall,  she  sheeted  homo, 
and  hoisted  her  fore  and  mai'  -top-  '^llant  sails,  and  in  a 
few  moments  after,  was  11}  awu}  n.  m  the  enemy  on 
an  easy  bowline  at  the  rat.,  of  cloven  kuots. 

In  a  little  less  than  an  hour  af^'^r  the  squall  had 
struck  the  ship  it  had  entirely  passed  ofV  to  leeward,  and 
another  sight  was  again  obtained  of  the  enemy.  The 
Bclvidcra,  the  nearest  ship,  had  altered  her  bearing  in 
that  short  period  nearly  two  points  more  to  leeward,  and 
was  a  long  way  astern.  The  next  nearest  vessel  was  still 
further  to  leeward  and  more  distant ;  while  the  two  re- 
maining frigates  were  fairly  hull  down,  and  tlic  Africa 
was  barely  visible  in  the  horizon ! 

All  apprehensions  of  the  enemy  now  wore  at  an  end, 
still  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  carry  sail  on  the  ship  to 
increase  the  distance,  and  also  to  preserve  the  weather 
gage.  At  half-past  ten  the  wind  backed  further  to  the 
southward,  when  the  Constitution,  which  had  been  steer- 
ing free  for  some  time,  took  in  her  lower  studding-sails. 
At  eleven  the  enemy  fired  two  guns,  and  the  nearest  ship 
could  just  be  discovered  like  a  speck  on  the  water.  As 
the  wind  continued  light  and  baflling,  the  enemy  still 
persevered  in  the  chase,  but  at  day-light  the  nearest 
ship  was  hull  down  astern  and  to  leeward.  Under  the 
circumstances,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  use  every  ex- 
ertion to  lose  sight  of  the  English  frigates,  and  as  the 


1812.] 

wind  was 
down  fron 
of  this  CMi 
of  the  em 
the  water, 
all  hauled 
tiic  chase 
nearly  tin 
cumstance 
ing  topsail 
hope  of  ov( 

Thus  ter 
for  its  lenj 
stands  unp; 
board  of  tli 
citing  perio 
order  was  ^ 
effect  her  o^ 
sail,  no  and 
stroyed,  anc 
gallons  of  w 
enemy,  the 
conclusion  I 
commander, 
discreet  thn 
tained  by  hi 
fore  entitled 

On  Capta 
from  the  Er 
his  friends,  i 
he  entered  tl 

**  Captain 
rectly  infor 
British  squa^ 


1812.] 


TIIK   AMKRICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


19 


wiiul  was  rii]liii<;  ligl't,  tlio  Constiliit ion's  sails  wore  wot 
down  from  llio  sky-siiils  to  tho  ('()nr.s('H.  Tlio  ^ood  clVcct 
of  this  rnro  \vm  soon  visible,  as  at  six  a.m.  tho  toi>sails 
of  the  enoniy's  nearest  sliips  were  beginnin^j;  to  dip  in 
the  water.  At  a  qnarter  past  eight  tlic  Knglish  sliips 
all  hauled  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  and  gave  up 
the  chase  ;  fully  satisfied,  by  a  trial  that  had  lasted 
nearly  three  days  and  as  many  nights,  under  all  tho  cir- 
cumstances that  attend  nautical  mana'uvros,  from  reef- 
ing topsails,  to  towing  and  kedging,  that  they  had  no 
hope  of  overtaking  their  enemy. 

Thus  terminated  a  chase  that  has  become  celebrated 
for  its  length,  perseverance,  coolness,  and  activity,  and 
stands  unparalleled  on  the  pages  of  nautical  history.  On 
board  of  the  Tonstitution,  during  the  whole  of  this  ex- 
citing period,  there  was  no  confusion  or  disorder,  every 
order  was  judiciously  given,  and  promptly  obeyed.  To 
cfiect  her  escape  the  Constitution  lost  not  a  spar,  nor  a 
sail,  no  anchor  was  cut  away,  no  gun  lost,  no  boat  de- 
stroyed, and  nothing  was  thrown  overboard  except  some 
gallons  of  water.  A  few  days  after  losing  sight  of  the 
enemy,  the  noble  old  ship  arrived  safe  at  Boston.  In 
conclusion  I  have  only  to  add  a  just  eulogy  to  her  brave 
commander,  the  heroic  Hull.  lie  was  cool,  resolute,  and 
discreet  throughout  the  whole  affair,  and  was  nobly  sus- 
tained by  his  gallant  oflicers  and  crew.  They  are  there- 
fore entitled  to  their  country's  everlasting  gratitude. 

On  Captain  Hull's  arrival  at  Boston,  after  his  escape 
from  the  English  squadron,  he  was  heartily  greeted  by 
his  friends,  and  the  people  of  that  city,  on  which  occasion 
he  entered  the  following  notice  on  the  coffee-house  books  : 

"  Captain  Hull,  finding  his  friends  in  Boston  are  cor- 
rectly informed  of  his  situation  when  chased  by  the 
British  squadron  off  New- York,  and  that  they  are  good 


20 


THK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


cnougli  to  givo  liini  inoro  credit  for  luiving  OHciiped 
them  than  lie  ouj^ht  to  chiiiii,  tuke,s  tlils  opportunity  of 
re(iiienting  tlieni  to  make  u  truiiHfer  of  a  great  part  of 
their  good  wishes  to  riieiitenaiit  Morris,  and  the  otlier 
brave  ollicers,  and  the  crew  under  Iuh  connnand.  for  tlieir 
many  great  exertions  and  pronii)t  attention  to  orders 
while  the  enemy  were  in  chase. 

"  Captain  Hull  has  great  pleasure  in  saying,  that  not- 
withstanding the  length  of  the  chase,  the  ollicers  and 
crew  being  deprived  of  sleep,  and  allowed  but  little 
refreshment  during  the  time,  not  a  murmur  was  heard 
to  escape  them." 

After  the  memora])le  chase  of  tlie  Constitution  by 
the  ]irilish  fleet,  they  were  aUowed  to  se))arate  and 
cruise  singly  on  and  oil'  our  coast,  in  order  to  des- 
troy all  manner  of  American  vessels  ;  and  it  so 
happened  that  not  long  after  the  sei)aration,  when  oil' 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  little  merchant-ship  John 
Adams,  on  lier  return  homo  to  New  York  I'rom  Lisbon 
(she  having  a  British  license,)  fell  in  with  the  (luerriere, 
when  Captain  Dacres  indorsed  the  following  challenge  on 
her  register  : — 

"  Captain  Dacres,  commander  of  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jesty's frigate  Guerriere,  of  forty-foiu'  guns,  presents  his 
compliments  to  Commodore  Rodgcrs,  of  the  United  States 
frigate  President,  and  will  be  very  happy  to  meet  him, 
or  any  other  American  frigate  of  equal  force  to  the  Pres- 
ident, off  Sandy  Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  social 
tUe-a-tHey 

On  the  arrival  of  the  John  Adams  at  New  York, 
Captain  Dacres'  challenge  was  copied  into  all  the  news- 
papers of  the  day,  and  had  a  wide  circulation  all  over 
the  United  States. 

Captain  Hull  remained  with  the  Constitution  in  the 


1812.] 

[lort  of  |{ 

his  water 

and  crew. 

Hamilton 

lcS12.  tha 

eastward, 

of  the  CMC 

ing  in  tliu 

Sable,  an( 

days,  wit 

to  change 

bore  u|),  a 

ing  near  tl 

a  station  o 

to  intenu'p 

from  Queb 

capture  su 

into  Britisll 

On  the  ] 

ui  with  a  li 

foundland, 

took  out  t 

took  the  Bi 

to  England, 

set  her  on 

Capo  Race, 

morning  of 

ahead  of  tl 

chase  under 

them  very 

ship-of-war. 

the  same  ta 

that  the  shij 

very  ftist  wi 


IH12.] 


TIIK     AMKUICAN     I'llIVATKEUa. 


21 


[tort  ol"  Hosloii  iil)out  uwt'ok,  just  loii^  ciioti^li  lo  fill  up 
his  Wilier,  reprovisiou  llio  ship,  uiul  rolVosli  liis  oIlicorH 
iiiid  (trow,  wlioii  wo  (iiid  hy  his  letter  to  Iho  lion.  J'liul 
Iliuniitoii,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  dated  August  the  2d, 
isrj.  that  ho  left  port  on  that  day  and  stood  to  the 
eastward,  along  the  coast,  in  hopes  of  falling  in  with  one 
of  the  enemy's  fi'igates  which  was  reported  to  he  cruis- 
ing in  that  direction,  lie  then  ran  oil"  Halifax  and  (^ape 
Sable,  and  after  remaining  near  there  for  three  or  four 
days,  without  seeing  anything  which  determined  him 
to  change  his  cruising-ground  towards  Newfoundland, 
horc  up,  and  ran  to  the  eiustward,  under  full  sail,  pass- 
ing near  the  fsle  of  Sable,  and  then  hauled  in  and  took 
a  station  oil' the  Oulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  near  Cape  Ilace, 
to  intercept  the  shi[)s  of  the  enemy  bound  either  to  or 
from  Quebec  or  Halifax,  and  to  be  in  a  situaticm  to  re- 
capture such  of  our  vessels  as  they  might  be  sending 
into  IJritish  ports. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  being  off  Cape  Race,  ho  fell 
in  with  a  light  FiUglish  brig  bound  to  Halifax,  from  New- 
foundland, and  as  she  was  not  worth  sending  in,  he 
took  out  the  crew  and  burned  hor.  On  the  11th  he 
took  the  British  brig  Adiona,  from  Nova  Scotia,  bound 
to  England,  loaded  with  ship  timber  ;  took  out  the  crew, 
set  her  on  fire,  and  made  sail  to  take  a  station  nearer 
Capo  Race,  where  ho  continued  to  cruise  until  the 
morning  of  the  15th.  At  daylight  five  sail  were  in  sight 
ahead  of  them,  apparently  a  small  convoy.  He  gave 
chase  under  a  press  of  sail,  and  soon  found  he  gained  on 
them  very  fast,  and  discovered  that  one  of  them  was  a 
ship-of-war.  At  sunrise  they  hove  about,  and  stood  on 
the  same  tack  with  him.  By  this  time  he  discovered 
that  the  ship  of  war  had  a  brig  in  tow.  At  six,  coming  up 
very  fast  with  the  ship,  she  cast  off  her  tow  and  set  her 


22 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


1812.] 


on  firo,  and  had  ordered  a  second  brig  to  stand  before 
the  wind  to  separate  tliem,  the  ship-of-war  making  sail 
to  the  windward.     lie  then  gave  chase  to  a  sliip  wliich 
appeared  to  be  under  her  convoy,  but  when  he  came  up 
with  her  she  proved  to  be  a  British  prize  to  the  Dol- 
phin privateer  of  Salem.     She  had  been  spoken  by  the 
ship-of-war,  but  he  came  up  with  them  before  tliey  had 
time  to  put  men  on  board  and  take  charge  of  her.     While 
the  Constitution's  boats  were  boarding   this  vessel,  the 
ship-of-war  had  got  nearly  hull  down  from  him,  and  un- 
derstanding from  one  of  the  prisoners  that  she  was  a 
very  fast  sailer,  he  found  it  would  not  be  possible  to 
come  up  with  her  before  night,  or  perhaps  not  then  ;  he 
therefore  gave  chase  to  the  brig  that  ran  before  the 
wind,  deter'T^lned  to  destroy  all  her  convoy.     He  soon 
found  he  came  up  fast  with  the  brig,  and  that  they  were 
making  every  exertion  to  get  off,  by  throwing  overboard 
all  the  lumber,  water-casks,  etc.,  etc.     At  two  p.  m.  he 
brought-to,  the  chase,  and  found  her  to  be  the  American 
brig  Adeline,  from  Liverpool,  loaded  with  dry  goodS; 
etc.     Took  the  prize-master  and  crew  out,  and  put  Mid- 
shipman Madison  and  a  crew  on  board,  with  orders  to 
proceed  to  the  nearest  port  in  the  United  States.   From 
the  prize-master  of  this  vessel  he  learned,  that  the  brig 
burned  by  the  sloop-of-war,  belonged  to  New  York,  and 
was  loaded  with  hemp,    duck,  last  from  Jutland,  hav- 
hig  gone  in  there  in  distress. 

Having  chased  so  far  to  the  eastward  as  to  make  it 
impossible  to  come  u'^  with  the  sloop-of-war,  he  deter- 
mined to  change  hi.s  cruising-ground,  as  he  found  by 
some  of  the  prisoners  that  came  from  this  vessel,  that 
the  squadron  that  chased  him  off  New  York,  was  on  the 
western  edge  of  the  Grand  Bank,  not  far  distant  from 
him.     He  accordingly  stood  to  the  southward,  intending 


to  pass  n 

coast — sav 

past  nine, 

dark  ;  mar 

was  a  brig. 

board,  and 

Decatur,  be 

and  eight  r 

liad  throwi 

The  captai: 

saw  the  da^ 

ward,   and 

twelve  A.M. 

possible,  to 

Cape  Race, 

ships  by  b( 

two. 

The  abov 

tain  Hull,  or 

Boston  up  t( 

As  Capta 

and  on  the  ] 

hsh  nien-of- 

and  return  ( 

With  respec 

Americans  h 

English  nav; 

over  the  Fre 

so  man}'  eas 

that  the  Enc- 

lieve,  that  or 

frigate  of  an 

inspired  ther 

them  obnoxic 


1812.] 


THE   AMEUICAN    rUIVATEEUS. 


to  pass  near  Bermuda,  and  cruise  ofT   our  southern 
coast — saw  notliing  till  the  night  of  the  18th  ;  at  half- 
past  nine,  p.m.,   discovered   a  sail  very  near,  it   being 
dark  ;  made  sail  and  gave  chase,  and  could  see  that  she 
was  a  brig.     At  eleven  brought  her  to,   sent  a  boat  on 
board,  and  found  her   to   be   the   American   privateer 
Decatur,  belonging  to  Salem,  with  a  crew  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  men,  and  fourteen  guns,  twelve  of  which  she 
had  thrown   overboard  while  we  were   in  chase  of  her. 
The  captain  came  on  board^   and  informed  u^^  that  he 
saw  the  day  before,  a  ship-of-war  standing  to  the  south- 
ward,  and  that   she  could  not  be   far    from    us.      At 
twelve  A.M.  made  sail  \.o  the  southward,    intending,  if 
pos.si])]e,  to  fall  :'n  with  her.     The  privateer  stood-in  for 
Cape  Race,  to  make  that  her  cruising-ground,  and  take 
ships  by  boarding,  as  she  had  lost  all  her  guns  but 
two. 

The  above  is  the  substance  of  a  journal  kept  by  Cap- 
tain Hull,  on  board  the  Con.^titution,  from  the  time  he  left 
Boston  up  to  this  date,  namely,  August  the  18th. 

As  Captain  Hull  is  once  more  on  his  own  element, 
and  on  the  best  cruising-ground  he  could  select  for  Eng- 
lish men-of-war,  I  will  lea^  e  him  there  for  the  present, 
and  return  on  shore  to  take  a  view  of  public  opinion. 
With  respect  to  naval  battles  ;  on  the  one  hand,  the 
Americans  had  generally  been  accustomed  to  think  the 
English  navy  invincible.  They  had  so  long  triumphed 
over  the  French  and  Spanish  ships-of-war,  and  gained 
so  many  easy  victories  by  their  superior  seamanshij). 
that  the  English  themselves  believed,  or  affected  to  be- 
lieve, that  one  of  their  sloops-of-war  was  a  match  for  a 
frigate  of  any  other  nation.  Their  old  sea-songs  had 
inspired  them  with  a  feeling  of  vanity  which  rendered 
them  obnoxious  to  all  other  nations,  audit  seemed  to  be 


24 


THE     AMERICAN     rUIVATEERS. 


flS12. 


1812.] 


the  will  of  Providence  that  young  and  inexperienced 
America  should  be  the  first  nation  to  humble  their  pride, 
and  break  the  spell  that  had  so  long  caused  them  to 
domineer  over  States  less  powerful  than  themselves.  In 
view  of  all  these  causes,  there  was  an  intense  feeling  of 
hope  and  fear  for  the  result  of  the  first  naval  battle  ;  the 
whole  nation,  as  it  were,  drew  a  long  breath  of  anx- 
ious suspense.  There  were,  however,  some  honorable 
exceptions  to  the  general  feeling  of  doubt  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  there  was  a  little  band  of  nautical  men,  whose  self- 
reliance  never  wavered,  and  whose  hearts  beat  high 
with  ardent  desire  to  wipe  oil'  the  stain  of  the  attack  on 
the  Chesapeake,  and  other  numerous  wrongs  and  msults 
so  long  endured,  that  almost  every  seaman,  to  a  man, 
throughout  the  whole  length  and  breadth  of  the  United 
States,  panted  for  revenge,  and  they  only  wished  for  an 
opportunity  to  meet  the  foe  upon  ecj^ual  terms.  Every- 
body knew  of  Captain  Hull's  esca[)e  from  the  British 
fleet,  and  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  country 
knew  he  had  gone  to  sea  again  to  pick  a  quarrel  with 
the  first  English  frigate  he  could  meet  with,  and  as  this 
was  not  long  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the 
honor  of  the  whole  nation  seemed  involved  in  the  result 
of  the  first  naval  battle.  Hundreds  were  ruiming  to  the 
Post-office  to  catch  the  first  news  from  the  frigate  Con- 
stitution. The  present  generation  cannot  conceive  of 
the  intense  feeling  of  anxiety  that  pervaded  the  public 
mind  at  that  period.  The  writer  of  these  pages  was  at 
Charleston,  S.  C,  soon  after  the  alTair  of  the  Constitu- 
tion and  Guerriere,  when  a  patriotic  lady  of  that  city, 
in  describing  her  feelings  of  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  the 
Constitution  after  leaving  Boston,  she  told  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  present,  that  her  heart  beat  pit-a-pat  so 
loud  that  every  one  could  have  heard  it  quite  across 


the  room ; 

that  old  an( 

siasm  ;  how 

succeeded  \ 

with  anythi 

The  read 

cruise  of  tli 

action  betw 

following  in 

Orne,'"  (wh( 

action),   exti 

commences 

"1  commi 

1812,  and  ^ 

Boston.     W 

Dank  of  Nc^ 

fell  in  with 

crcs,  and  wa 

l"ken  on  be 

officers  and  i 

Halifax,  N.  g 

of  the  same  n 

tilde  about  5^ 

northward,  tj 

sails  during  ? 

we  disco vere( 

Xorth  from  u 

She  was  stee 

the  Southwes 

us  off  as  sooi] 


^  Captain  Orne,  a 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
He  is  considered  a 
as  his  sealed  bond. 


■ 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    rUTVATEERS. 


26 


the  room ;  and  such  was  the  insph-ing  love  of  country, 
that  old  and  young  partook  of  the  same  patriotic  enthu- 
siasm ;  how  then  can  it  astonish  any  one  that  victory 
.succeeded  victory,  whenever  our  ships  met  the  enemy 
with  anything  hke  equal  force  ? 

The  reader  will  observe,  that  I  have  brought  the 
cruise  of  the  Constitution  down  to  the  day  before  the 
action  between  the  two  frigates.  I  will  here  insert  the 
following  information  supplied  me  by  Capt.  William  B. 
Orne,'"  (who  was  on  board  the  Gucrriere  during  the 
action),  extracted  from  his  own  private  journal,  which 
commences  thus  : — 

"  1  commanded  the  American  brig  Betsey,  in  the  year 
1812,  and  was  returning  home  from  Xaples,  Italy,  to 
Boston.  "When  near  the  western  ed'ge  of  the  Grand 
Iknk  of  Newfoundland,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1812,  I 
fell  in  with  the  British  frigate  Guerriere,  Captain  Da- 
crcs,  and  was  captured  by  him.  Myself  and  a  boy  were 
l"kon  on  board  of  the  frigate;  the  remainder  of  my 
ofliccrs  and  men  were  left  in  the  Betsey,  and  sent  into 
Halifax,  N.  S.,  as  a  prize  to  the  Guerriere.  On  the  19th 
of  the  same  month,  when  in  latitude  41*^  41'  North,  longi- 
tude about  55 '^  40'' West,  the  wind  being  fresh  from  the 
northward,  the  Guerriere  was  under  double-reefed  top- 
sails during  all  the  forenoon  of  this  day.  At  two  P.  M., 
we  discovered  a  large  sail  to  windward,  bearing  about 
Xorth  from  us.  We  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate. 
She  was  steering  off  from  the  winJ,  with  her  head  to 
the  Southwest,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  cutting 
us  off  as  soon  as  possible.     Signals  were  soon  made  by 


<»  Captain  Orne,  at  this  time,  May  the  1st,  1856,  is  still  living  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  is  1'  ghly  esteemed  and  beloved  by  all  who  know  bim. 
He  is  considered  a  man  of  truth  and  veracity,  and  his  naked  word  is  as  good 
as  his  sealed  bond. 


26 


Till-:    AMKIUCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812 


1812.] 


the  Gucrriore,  but  as  tlicy  were  not  answered,  the  con- 
clusion of  course  was,  that  she  was  either  a  French  or 
an  American  frigate.  Captain  Dacres  appeared  anxious 
to  ascertain  her  character,  and  after  looking  at  her  for 
that  purpose,  handed  me  his  spy-glass,  requesting  me  to 
give  him  my  opinion  of  the  stranger.  I  soon  saw  from 
the  peculiarity  of  her  sails,  and  from  her  general  ap- 
pearance, that  she  was,  without  doubt,  an  American 
frigate,  and  communicated  the  same  to  Captain  Dacres. 
He  immediately  replied,  that  he  thought  she  came  down 
too  boldly  for  an  American,  but  soon  after  added  :  '  The 
better  he  behaves,  the  more  honor  we  shall  gain  by 
taking  him.' 

"  The  two  ships  were  rapidly  approaching  each  other, 
when  the  Guerriere  backed  her  main-topsail,  and  waited 
for  her  opponent  to  come  down,  and  commence  the 
action.  He  then  set  an  English  flag  at  each  mast-head, 
beat  to  quarters,  and  made  ready  for  the  fight.  When 
the  strange  frigate  came  down  to  within  two  or  three 
miles  distance,  he  hauled  upon  the  wind,  took  in  all  his 
light  sails,  reefed  his  topsails,  and  deliberately  prepared 
for  action.  It  was  now  about  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, when  he  filled  away  and  ran  down  for  the  Guer- 
riere. At  this  moment,  Captain  Dacres  politely  said  to 
me :  '  Captain  Orne,  as  I  suppose  you  do  not  wish  to 
fight  against  your  own  coinitrymen,  you  are  at  liberty 
to  go  below  the  water-line.'  It  was  not  long  after  this 
before  I  retired  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  cock-pit ; 
of  course  I  saw  no  more  of  the  action  until  the  firing 
ceased,  but  I  heard  and  felt  much  of  its  effects  ;  for  soon 
after  I  left  the  deck,  the  firing  commenced  on  board 
the  Guerriere,  and  was  kept  up  almost  constantly  until 
about  six  o'clock,  when  I  heard  a  tremendous  explosion 
from  the  opposing  frigate.  The  effect  of  her  shot  seemed 


to  make  thi 

had  receive 

after  this,  I 

told  the  mi; 

afterward,  t 

At  about  hi 

firing  had  c 

scene  whicli 

Guerriere's 

sails  to  steac 

of  the  sea. 

ing  the  deai 

blood,  and  h 

house  ;  the 

of  the  guns  . 

one  side  to  t 

'  "Some of 

got  liquor,  a 

groans  of  th 

em-aged  surv 

the  whole  sci 

After  havi 

battle,  I  will  i 

of  the  action, 

which  the  ga' 

in  his  official 

N"avy,  that  o 

tude  41°  41 

P.M.,  a  sail  "v 

ing  from  hir 

could  not  tell 

mediately  ma 

upon  her  ;  at 

ship  under  eai 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


27 


to  make  the  Guerriore  reel,  and  tremble  as  thougli  slie 
hud  received  the  shock  of  an  earthquake.  Iiniiiediately 
after  tliLs,  I  hoard  a  tremendous  crash  on  deck,  and  was 
told  the  mizzen-mast  was  shot  away.  In  a  few  moments 
afterward,  the  cock-pit  was  fdled  with  wounded  men. 
At  about  half-past  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  the 
firing  had  ceased,  I  went  on  deck,  and  there  beheld  a 
scene  which  it  would  be  difficult  to  describe  :  all  the 
Guerriere's  masts  were  shot  away,  and  as  she  had  no 
sails  to  steady  her,  she  lay  rolling  like  a  log  in  the  trough 
of  the  sea.  Many  of  the  men  were  employed  in  throw- 
ing the  dead  overboard.  The  decks  were  covered  with 
blood,  and  had  the  appearance  of  a  butcher's  slaughter- 
house ;  the  gun  tackles  were  not  made  fast,  and  several 
of  the  guns  got  loose,  and  were  surging  to  and  fro  from 
one  side  to  the  other. 

"  Some  of  the  petty  officers  and  seamen,  after  the  action, 
got  liquor,  and  were  intoxicated  ;  and  what  with  the 
groans  of  the  wounded,  the  noise  and  confusion  of  the 
enraged  survivors  on  board  of  the  ill-fated  ship,  rendered 
the  whole  scene  a  perfect  hell." 

After  having  related  Captain  Orne's  statement  of  the 
battle,  I  will  now  proceed  to  give  Captain  Hull's  account 
of  the  action,  with  a  few  additional  incidents  and  remarks, 
which  the  gallant  Commodore  was  too  modest  to  insert 
in  his  official  report.  He  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  that  on  the  19th  of  August,  1812,  being  in  lati- 
tude 41°  41'  North,  longitude  55°  48'  West,  at  two 
P.M.,  a  sail  was  discovered  from  the  mast-head,  bear- 
ing from,  him  E.S.E.,  but  at  so  great  a  distance  he 
could  not  tell  what  she  was.  All  sail  was  however  im- 
mediately made  in  chase,  and  he  soon  found  he  gained 
upon  her  ;  at  three  p.  m.  could  plainly  see  that  she  was  a 
ship  under  easy  sail,  standing  close  upon  the  wind  on  the 


28 


Tin-:    AMKUICAN    rUIVATEERS. 


L1812 


starboard  tack ;  at  lialf'-past  three  made  her  out  to  be  a 
frigate.  He  conthuied  the  chase  until  within  about  three 
miles  distance  to  Avindward  of  the  enemy.  Captain 
Ilidl  then  hauled  to  the  wind,  and  deliberately  took  in 
all  his  light  sails,  and  prepared  for  action  ;  he  also  took  a 
second  reef  in  liis  topsails,  as  the  wind  was  blowing  fresh 
from  the  northward  ;  he  then  sent  down  royal-yards, 
hauled  up  his  courses,  cleared  ship,  and  beat  to  quarters. 
At  this  time  the  chase  lay  with  her  main-topsail  aback, 
evidently  waiting  for  the  American  frigate  to  come  down 
to  commence  the  action. 

At  live  r.M.  the  Guerriere  hoisted  an  English  ensign 
at  each  mast-head,  wlien  the  Constitution  set  her  colors, 
bore  up  and  ran  to  leeward  in  order  to  close  in  with  the 
enemy  to  the  best  advantage.  As  the  Constitution  neared 
the  Guerriere,  say  when  within  long-gun  shot,  the  latter 
ship  opened  her  fire,  wearing  and  yawing  about  to 
rake  and  prevent  being  raked.  The  first  two  broadsides 
fired  from  the  Englishman,  however,  were  at  so  great  a 
distance  that  little  or  no  damage  was  received  by  the 
American  frigate. 

Up  to  this  time.  Captain  Hull  had  reserved  his  fire, 
all  his  guns  being  double-shotted,  that  is  to  say  with 
one  round  shot  and  a  canister  of  grape.  At  six  in  the 
evening,  the  English  frigate  bore  up,  and  ran  ofi'  the 
wind  under  her  three  topsails  and  jib,  with  the  wind  on 
the  quarter,  to  invite  his  adversary  to  a  combat  at  close 
quarters.  Immediately  after  this,  say  at  a  quarter  after 
six,  the  Constitution  set  her  main-top-gallant-sail  and 
fore-sail,  to  range  along  side  and  close  in  with  the  enemy. 

As  she  approached  the  Guerriere,  that  ship  hulled  the 
Constitution  several  times,  and  killed  or  wounded  a  few 
men.  At  this  period  Mr.  Morris,  Captain  Hull's  first 
Lieutenant,  came  aft  on  the  quarter-deck  (where  Captain 


1813.J 

II nil  was  wa" 

inont  of  his  ; 

whether  he  s 

siiid  the  men 

difficult  to  re 

action.      His 

(ire  till  he  gj 

Morris  I'll  te 

and  see  that 

ment  the  nav 

the  two  ships 

up  within  ha 

quarter  of  lii.'- 

dored  Mr.  Mc 

next,  sir,  poui 

order.     Ho  s; 

at  the  same  n 

Heavens  that 

As  the  two 

other,   they  I 

about  ten  min 

man  was  shot 

stitution  still 

adversary,   ko 

liifTed  short  ro 

being  raked,  v 

ocuvre,  she  shi 

and  fell  foul  c 

bowsprit  came 

American  frig 

pared  to  boarc 

musketry,  whi 

ris,  Mr.  Alwyr 

officer,  and  otl 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


29 


Hull  was  walking,  and  attentively  obHcrving  every  move- 
ment of  his  adversary),  and  infjuirod  of  his  commander 
whether  he  .should  not  retui'n  the  lire  of  tlie  enemy.  Ho 
said  the  men  were  very  eager  to  lire,  and  that  it  was 
(lillicult  to  restrain  their  ardent  desire  to  commence  the 
action.  His  answer  to  liis  Lieutenant  was,  not  to 
(ire  till  he  gave  the  order,  or  in  plainer  English,  "Mr. 
Morris  Til  tell  you  when  to  Hre,  therefore  stand  ready, 
and  see  that  not  a  shot  is  thrown  away."  At  this  mo- 
ment the  naval  hero  was  watching  the  exact  position  of 
the  two  ships,  and  as  the  Constitution  gradually  ranged 
up  within  half  pistol  shot,  and  began  to  double  on  the 
quarter  of  his  opponent,  Captain  Hull  peremptorily  or- 
dered Mr.  Morris  to  give  him  the  first  division.  "The 
next,  sir,  pour  in  the  whole  broadside,"  was  the  reiterated 
order.  He  saw  the  effect  of  this  terrible  broadside,  and 
at  the  same  moment  exclaimed  to  those  about  him,  "  by 
Heavens  that  ship  is  ours." 

As  the  two  frigates  now  lay  nearly  abreast  of  each 
other,  they  both  kept  up  a  constant  cannonading  for 
about  ten  minutes,  when  the  mizzen-mast  of  the  English- 
man was  shot  away  not  far  above  the  deck.  The  Con- 
stitution still  continued  to  range  slowly  ahead  of  his 
adversary,  keeping  up  a  tremendous  fire.  She  then 
luffed  short  round  the  bows  of  the  Guerriere  to  prevent 
being  raked,  when  unfortunately,  in  executing  this  man- 
oeuvre, she  shot  into  the  wind,  got  stern-way  upon  her, 
and  fell  foul  of  her  antagonist,  so  that  the  Guerriere's 
bowsprit  came  in  contact  with  the  mizzen  shrouds  of  the 
American  frigate.  In  this  situation  both  parties  pre- 
pared to  board,  but  as  each  ship  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry,  while  they  were  in  collision,  Lieutenant  Mor- 
ris, Mr.  Alwyn,  the  saiUng-master,  Mr.  Bush,  the  marine 
officer,  and  others,  sprang  upon  the  taffrail  to  l)oard  or 


80 


Tin-:     AMKUICAN     rUIVATKIOUS. 


[1812. 


rcpol  boarders.  Several  of  tliem  wci-e  shot.  Mr.  Morris 
roceivetl  a  musket  ball  in  the  abdomen,  but  remained  at 
his  post.  Mr.  IJush  I'ell  dead  by  a  musket  ball  passing 
throu«j;h  his  liead,  and  Mr.  Alwyn  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  At  this  moment  there  was  considerable  sea 
on,  when  the  lore  and  main  masts  of  the  English  frigate 
went  by  the  board,  leaving  the  Cjuerrierc  a  helpless 
wreck,  wallowing  in  the  trough  of  tlie  sea. 

The  two  ships  soon  separated,  when  the  Constitution 
at  once  made  sail,  hauling  on  board  her  fore  and  main 
tacks,  and  ran  of!'  a  short  distance  to  windward,  when  she 
rove  new  braces,  and  cleared  ship  to  renew  the  action. 

The  (iucrriere  having  the  stump  of  the  mizzen-mast 
still  standing,  hoisted  upon  it  an  English  jack,  and  when 
Captain  Dacres  saw  his  adversary  preparing  to  come 
down  athwart  his  bows  to  give  him  the  raking  coup-dc- 
gi'dre,  he  very  wisely  hauled  down  his  flag,  and  sur- 
rendered to  the  frigate.  Thus  ended  the  first  naval  battle 
of  any  consequence  in  the  war  of  1812;  but  which  was 
the  prelude  to  many  other  glorious  victories. 

After  the  flag  was  struck,  Captain  Hull  sent  Mr.  Reid, 
his  third  Lieutenant,  on  board  the  prize  to  ascertain  what 
ship  it  was,  when  the  boat  was  immediately  sent  back 
to  report  that  the  captured  ship  was  the  Guerriere, 
38,  Captain  James  R.  Dacres,  one  of  the  frigates  that 
had  so  lately  chased  the  Constitution  off  New  York. 

Captain  Hull  remained  near  his  prize  during  the  night 
to  watch  over  her  safety.  The  next  morning  at  daylight, 
the  officer  in  charge  of  the  prize  hailed  to  say,  that  the 
Guerriere  had  four  feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  that  there 
was  much  danger  of  her  sinking.  Consequently,  the  first 
thing  to  be  done  was,to  remove  all  the  wounded  prisoners 
to  the  Constitution  as  soon  as  possible,  for  the  first  im- 
pulse of  a  brave  man,  after  the  battle  is  over,  is  to  com- 


1812.J 

fori;  and  soc 
Hr.ll  accordi 
porting  the  ( 
f'lil),  and,  as 
noon  on  tlio 
o'clock  in  the 
previously  sc 
hour  after  sh 
The  di.sj)ai 
wounded  was 
battles,  and  \ 
The  loss  of  tl: 
wounded,  G2. 
The  loss  or 
7  wounded. 

REl 

Captain  Da« 

no  doubt  a  br 

fortunately  for 

this  affair.     T 

cheap,  a  very  c 

down  to  the  j 

British  light-cj 

second  error  v 

he  rememberer 

"Let  not  him  tl 

that  putteth  it 

much  pain  ant 

The  third  mist? 

on  all  hands,  tl; 

This  last  mistal 

ate  judgment. 

On  the  part  o 


1812.] 


THE     AMFIUCAN     PRIVATKKIlS. 


31 


fori;  and  soothe  the  woiuulod  and  tlio  dying.  Captain 
lliiU  accordinj^ly  .sent  all  hi.s  boat.s,  and  connnenced  trans- 
porting the  odicer.s  and  men  of  the  (Jiuerriere  to  his  own 
sliip,  and,  a.s  the  weather  had  now  become  moderate,  by 
noon  on  the  20th  tlii.s  duty  was  aecomphshcd.  Attlireo 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  prize  crew  was  recalled, having 
previously  set  the  wreck  on  fire,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  after  she  blew  up. 

The  disparity  between  the  two  ships  in  killed  and 
wounded  was  almost  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  naval 
battles,  and  was  by  the  official  accounts  as  follows :  — 
The  loss  of  the  Guerriere  in  killed  was  15  ;  missing,  24  ; 
wounded,  G2.  Total  killed  and  wounded,  and  missing,  101. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  7  killed  and 
7  wounded. 


REMARKS  ON  THIS  IMPORTANT  ACTION. 

Captain  Dacres  wao  tiie  son  of  a  British  Admiral,  and 
no  doubt  a  brave,  highminded,  honorable  man,  but  un- 
fortunately for  him,  ho  made  three  grand  mistakes  in 
this  affair.  The  first  was,  in  holding  his  enemy  too 
cheap,  a  very  common  fault  among  his  countrymen,  even 
down  to  the  present  day.  Witness  the  attack  of  the 
British  light-cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Balaklava.  The 
second  error  was,  in  boasting,  before  the  battle.  Had 
he  remembered  the  injunction  of  the  infallible  old  book, 
"Let  not  him  that  girdeth  on  his  arnior  boast  himself  as  he 
thatputteth  it  off","  it  would,  doubtless,  have  saved  him 
much  pain  and  mortification  throughout  his  after  life. 
The  third  mistake  was,  in  firing  too  soon,  for  it  is  agreed 
on  all  hands,  that  he  threw  away  two  entire  broadsides. 
This  last  mistake  evinced  a  great  want  of  cool,  deliber- 
ate judgment. 

On  the  part  of  Captain  Hull,  I  should  say,  as  a  nautical 


89 


Tin:    AMIlinCAN    I'UIVATKIinS. 


1812. 


man,  ho  also  uiiuU!  ono  ini,slnk(»  in  allowing'  llio  Ooii.sli- 
tiition  to  ^('1,  iiilo  tlio  wind,  and,  coustMiiiLMilly  making  a 
stern-boanl,  kIio  slioiild  liavo  ])con  kcipt  iindiT  j^ood  Ntocr- 
age-way,  lor  nndc»r  numo  circuiiistaiicoH  lliis  getting  i'oul 
of  tlio  cjicniy  nnglit  liavo  inv(»lved  the  safety  of  his  ship. 
I  will  not,  however,  judge  too  severely,  perhaps  it  wa.s 
nnavoidal)le.  The  wheel-ropes  might,  have  been  injured, 
or  some  oilier  cause  ronneetcd  with  the  steering  of  the 
shi|)  may  have  occurred,  which  has  not  been  related  in 
the  olTicial  account  of  the  action. 

With  respect  to  the  relative  size  of  the  two  ships, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  tlic  Constitution  was  tlio 
heavier,  and  that  the  weight  of  metal  was  also  in  favor 
of  the  American  frigat(\  Still,  under  these  circumstan- 
ces, it  would  not  have  made  a  shade  of  dillerenco  if  the 
Guerricre's  main-deck  guns  had  been  twenty-fours  in 
Ueu  of  eighteens. 

It  matters  not  how  large  a  shot  may  be,  if  it  is  badly 
directed  and  thrown  into  the  water,  or,  the  gun  so 
elevated  as  to  have  the  shot  pass  through  tlic  upper  air, 
or  the  lofty  sails  of  the  enemy.  It  will  be  observed, 
that  Captain  Hull  received  the  random  shot  of  his  ad- 
versary as  he  closed  in  Avith  him..  He,  no  doubt,  expected 
to  sufter  some  damage  b(?fore  ho  should,  as  it  wore,  crush 
his  enemy,  for  it  will  bo  recollected,  his  guns  were  all 
double-shotted,  viz.,  wath  round  grape  and  canister, 
and  as  soon  as  ho  poured  in  the  first  destructive  broad- 
side ho  saw  that  the  game  was  liis,  and,  that  ho  had 
given  the  Guerriere  a  death  blow. 

Hair-splitting  casuists  may  weigh  straws  and  >:olvc 
probable  results,  and  cavil  about  the  great  disparity  of 
the  two  ships,  but  the  common  sense  conclusion  is,  that 
the  English  had  met  a  new  enemy  in  the  American  sea- 
men,  and  were   disapjiointed    and   confounded  ;   they 


1812.] 

found  the  / 
bravery  and 
They  hud 
Frencji  and  1 
in  sailing  aiMi 
celled  the  I'' 
I»eople  on  tin 
oxcel  them  ii 
and  can  vie  \ 
except  practi 
loui  with  the 
French  and  S 
as  they  appr( 
two  as  feeler 
enough  for  tli 
vre  so  as  to  rt 
I)ut  little  loss 
probable,  that 
clple  with  the 
so  soon  close 
quer  or  sink. 

From  the  C( 
mno  practice 
all  our  ships-o 
at  long  balls,  1 
not  suit  the  na 
make  up  thei: 
familiar  phrase 
And  so  it  will 
feels  as  thougl 
rested  upon  h 
United  States 
birth,  and  not 
ings  in  commoi 


1812.] 


Tlir:    AMKIUCAN    rillVATKERS. 


88 


found  llio  Ainoriciiii  oH'KJor.s  and    inoii    I'ully  cMjual    in 
l)riivory  mid  .soiiuiansliip  to  tlioiusclvcs. 

Tli(\v'  liiid  f'oi'  yi'iirs  bocMi  accuslomed  to  vuiuiuisli  llio 
Fiviicli  and  Spanish  .shipH-of-war,  by  llioir  HUporioi'  .skill 
ill  .sailing'  and  nuinoMU  rinfj  tliuir  .ships  :  not  that  tlioy  I'x- 
celled  the  French  in  bravery,  for  there  is  no  braver 
people  on  the  lime  of  the  earth  :  neither  can  the  Enj^li.sii 
excel  them  in  f^nnnery,  for  they  arc  great  cannoneers, 
luid  can  vie  with  them  in  everything  pertaining  to  war, 
cxcei)t  pra(^ti(;al  .seamanship.  It  had  long  l)een  the  cus- 
tom with  the  English,  in  their  engagements  with  the 
Frcncli  and  Spanish,  both  in  (leets  and  with  single  sliips, 
as  they  api)roached  their  adversaries,  to  firo  a  gun  or 
two  as  feelers,  to  asceiain  whetlier  they  were  near 
enough  for  their  shot  to  take  ell'ect,  and  tlien  man(»'u- 
vre  so  as  to  rake  their  enemy,  and  gain  the  victory  with 
])iit  httle  loss  to  themselves.  It  is  therefore  more  than 
probable,  that  Captain  Dat^res  acted  on  the  same  old  prin- 
ciple with  the  Constitution,  not  dreaming  that  she  would 
so  soon  close  in  with  him,  with  a  determination  to  con- 
quer or  sink. 

From  the  commencement  to  the  end  of  the  war,  the 
same  practice  and  determination  were  carried  out  with 
all  our  .ships-of-war.  The  old-fashioned  way  of  playing 
at  long  balls,  for  several  hours  with  their  enemy,  does 
not  suit  the  nature  or  taste  of  the  Americans.  They 
make  up  their  minds  on  a  subject,  and  then,  to  use  a 
familiar  phrase,  "  go-ahead,"  regardless  of  consequences. 
And  so  it  will  ever  be  with  republicans,  each  individual 
feels  as  though  the  honor  of  the  flag  and  of  the  country 
rested  upon  his  shoulders  ;  that  he  is  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  ;  is  fighting  for  the  land  that  gave  him 
birth,  and  not  for  a  tyrannical  master,  who  has  no  feel- 
ings in  common  with  him. 
3 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


i.O 


1^128     |2.5 


I.I 


1.25 


1.4 


III 


2.0 


14 

1.6 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-450r 


^^ 


J 


i.) 


31 


THE    AMERICAN    PllIVATEKRS. 


[1812. 


The  American  seamen  in  this  trial  of  strength,  and  in 
most  other  naval  battles  during  the  war,  went  into  action 
dancing  at  tlieir  gnns,  and  telling  their  olBcers,  "  Gentle- 
men, you  take  care  of  the  flags  and  the  vj[uarter-deck, 
and  we  will  do  the  fighting." 

Captain  Hull,  finding  his  ship  filled  with  prisorers, 
many  of  whom  were  sufFering  iVom  their  wounds,  made 
sail  for  Boston,  where  he  arrived  on  the  30th  of  the 
month,  after  a  cruise  of  just  twenty-eight  days. 

On  his  return  to  Boston,  after  his  glorious  victory,  and 
destruction  of  the  Guerriere,  he  was  welcomed  with  heart- 
felt joy  by  all  classes  of  people.  An  artillery  company 
was  posted  on  the  wharf,  and  greeted  him  with  a  federal 
salute,  which  was  returned  by  the  Constitution. 

An  immense  number  of  citizens  received  him  with 
loud  and  unanimous  huzzas  in  every  part  of  the  city.  The 
principal  streets  were  beautifully  decorated  with  Ameri- 
can flags,  and  men  of  all  ranks  and  distinctions  appea?'ed 
to  vie  with  each  other  to  do  him  honor.  A  splendid  en- 
tertainment was  given  by  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  to 
Captain  Hull  and  the  brave  officers  belonging  to  his 
ship.  The  citizens  of  New  York  raised  a  sum  of  money 
for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  swords,  which  were  to  be 
presented  to  him  and  his  gallant  officers.  The  people 
of  Philadelphia  also  subscribed  funds  to  purchase  two 
superb  pieces  of  plate  to  be  given  to  the  naval  hero  and 
his  first  Lieutenant,  the  gallant  Morris.  In  Baltimore 
the  flags  of  all  the  vessels  in  the  harbor  were  displayed 
in  honor  of  Captain  Hull's  victory  over  the  Guerriere, 
and  a  grand  salute  fired.  In  fine,  the  whole  country  was 
electrified,  and  the  entire  heart  of  the  Nation  beat  high 


m 


his 


prai 


se. 


CHAPTER   II. 


LIST  OF  FRTOATES  FIT  FOR  HEA — FIRST  HRITIHII  SHIP  CAPTlTREn  AND  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK 

— CAPTURE    OF  THE  BRITISU  aOVEIUNMJLNT  KCllOOXKU  WHITING COMBAT  BETWEEN  TUB 

LETTER-OF-MAIIQIE-SCIIOONEU  FALCON  AND  THE  UlUTISII  flTTER  IIEIIO — SIXTY-FIVH 
PRIVATEERS  AND  LETTKRS-OF-MARQIE  AT  SF^  ON  THE  IOtH  OF  JULY,  1812 — FOUR 
PRIVATEERS  LEAVE  THE  CAPfiS  OF  THE  DELAWARE  ON  THE  20Tn  OF  JULY — PRIZES 
ARRIVING  ALMOST  DAILY  IN  THE  ATLANTIC  PORTS— SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE  OF  THE  PRIVA- 
TEER-SCHOONER FAME,  OF  SALEM — CAPTURE  OF  A  BRITISH  TRANSPORT  BRIO,  SF-NT  INTO 
OI^UCRSTER — KSCAPE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  SlXXtP  POLLY  FROM  THE  F^IOLISH  SLOOP-OP- 
WAR  INDIAN — CAPTURE  (IF  THE  SHIP  MARGARET  BY  THE  PRIVATEER  TEAZER—EXTIUCT 
FROM  A  LONDON  NEWSPAPER — BRITISH  BRIO  LEONIDAS  SKNT  INTO  SAVANNAH  BY  THK 
MARS — CAPTURE  OF  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  3.  CLARK  BY  THE  GLOBE,  SENT  LNTO  NORFOLK — 
PRIVATEER  JOHN  RETURNS  TO  SALEM,  AtTER  A  SUCCESSFUL  CRUISE-  COMMODORE  BARNEY 
ARRIVES  AT  NEWPORT  IN  THE  ROSSIE,  ON  THE  30TH  OF  AUGUST,  AFTER  A  SUCCfSSFUL 
CRUISE — A  SEVERE  FIUIIT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  SHADOW  AND  BRITISH  SHIP  MARY — 
BRITISH  SHIP  QUEBEC  CAPTURED  BY  THE  SARATOGA — CHASE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  JACK's 
FAVORITE  BY  HIS  MAJESTY'S  SCHOONER   SUBTLE,  AND  THE  LOSS  OF  THE   LATTER, 


When  I  commenced  writing  the  history  of  the  pri- 
vateers and  letters-of-marque,  it  was  not  my  intention 
to  enter  deeply  into  the  exploits  and  achievements  of 
our  gallant  little  navy,  either  on  the  broad  ocean  or  on 
our  extensive  lakes,  but  merely  to  intersperse  my  book 
with  a  few  of  the  most  brilliant  combats  between  single 
ships.  But,  as  I  advance,  I  find  the  two  subjects  so  in- 
timately connected,  that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  I  am 
able  to  proceed  without  giving  a  sketch,  or  short  outline 
of  the  war. 

In  following  up  the  chain  of  events  from  its  com- 
mencement, it  will  be  necessary  to  insert  here  a  list 
of  the  American  frigates,  that  were  well-manned  and 
efficient,  when  the  war  was  declared,  on  the  18th  of 
June,  1812. 

(35) 


36 


THE   AMEllICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


1812. J 


44  G 


uns. 


44 

44 

38 

38 

38 
^9 

Constitution, 

President, 

United  States, 

Congress, 

Constellation 

Chesapeake, 

Essex, 


Beside  the  above  seven  frigates,  there  were  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  sloops-of-war  and  smaller  vessels,  lying 
in  the  naval  dockyards.  Some  of  these  ships  were  re- 
pairing, others  unseaworthy,  and  not  fit  for  present  ser- 
vice. Consequently,  it  followed  that  the  before-named 
seven  frigates  were  left  to  contend  with  the  whole  British 
navy,  amounting  in  number,  at  that  period,  to  one  thou- 
sand and  sixty  sail,  eight  hundred  of  which  were  effi- 
cient cruising  ships,  and  a  large  portion  of  them 
at  sea. 

Against  such  an  overwhelming  disparity  of  numbers, 
while  numerous  merchant-vessels  were  spread  over  al- 
most every  sea,  what  was  the  best  policy  for  the  Ameri- 
can government  to  pursue  ?  The  question  is  easily 
answered.  Send  these  frigates  immediately  to  sea  to 
protect  our  own  merchant-ships,  and  order  them  to  take, 
burn,  sink,  and  destroy  the  enemy,  wherever  he  should 
be  found.  Also,  tell  them  that  if  they  meet  a  man-of- 
war  of  equal  or  even  superior  force,  should  the  disparity 
not  be  too  great,  to  attack  him  forthwith,  regardless  of 
consequences. 

For  the  result  of  such  a  determination,  I  refer  the 
reader  to  Cooper's  Naval  History,  and  to  the  official  gov- 
ernment documents  on  that  subject. 

After  these  remarks  respecting  the  United  States' 
navy,  I  will  go  on  to  record  the  daring  exploits  of  the 
privateers  and  letters-of-marque. 

Before  I  commence  with  the  prizes  made  by  the  pri- 


vateers, 

merchai 

hound  1 

llatteni: 

This  oc( 

after  the 

Onth 

Whiting 

ment  to 

while  lyi 

the  war) 

Baltimor 

was  reac 

merchant 

On  th( 

Falcon,  b 

ton  to  Bo 

on  the  coi 

ter  Hero, 

a-half,  ani 

both  sides 

attempts  1 

attacked  1 

men,  and 

ment  with 

commence 

bravely  r( 

captain  ar 

wounded,  i 

were  still 

where  the 

I  find  th 

14th:  "\\; 

which  war 


1812.J 


Tiir:  AvnuicAN  immvatkkijs. 


37 


vatcers,  I  will  just  stop  to  notice  that  the  first  English 
merchantman  captured,  was  a  British  ship  from  Jamaica, 
bound  to  London  (she  was  probably  taken  off  Cape 
llatteras),  and  sont  into  Norfolk  by  a  revenue  cutter. 
This  occurred  about  the  1st  of  July,  say  twelve  days 
after  the  declaration  of  war. 

On  the  10th  of  July,  the  British  government  schooner 
Whiting,  Lieut.  Maxey,  with  despatches  from  his  govern- 
ment to  the  government  of  the  LTiiited  States,  was  taken 
while  lying  in  Hampton  Roads  (he  not  having  heard  of 
the  war),  without  resistance,  by  the  privateer  Dash,  of 
Baltimore,  Captain  Carroway.  The  Dash,  at  this  time, 
was  ready  for  sea,  and  bound  on  a  cruise  for  British 
merchantmen. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  the  letter-of-marque  schooner 
Falcon,  belonging  to  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  from  Bos- 
ton to  Bordeaux,  with  four  guns  and  sixteen  men,  when 
on  the  coast  of  France,  was  engaged  with  the  British  cut- 
ter Hero,  with  five  guns  and  fifty  men  for  two  hours  and 
a-half,  and  finally  beat  her  off,  with  considerable  loss  on 
both  sides,  after  repulsing  the  enemy  three  times  in  his 
attempts  to  board.  On  the  next  day,  the  Falcon  was 
attacked  by  a  British  privateer  of  six  guns  and  forty 
men,  and  although  considerably  injiired  by  her  engage- 
ment with  the  cutter  the  day  previous,  the  privateer 
commenced  a  heavy  fire  on  the  Falcon,  which  she 
bravely  returned  for  an  hour  and  a-half,  when  the 
captain  and  several  of  the  crew  of  the  Falcon  being 
wounded,  she  was  carried  by  boarding,  while  her  colors 
were  still  flying.  They  were  carried  into  Guernsey, 
where  the  wounded  were  taken  on  shore. 

I  find  the  following  in  a  New  York  paper,  dated  July 
14th  :  "  We  believe  that  in  sixty  days  from  the  day  on 
which  war  against  England  was  declared,  there  will  be 


38 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


afloat  from  the  United  States  not  less  than  one  hundred 
privateers,  carrying  upon  an  average  six  guns  and 
seventy-five  men.  If  these  are  successful,  their  number 
will  probably  be  doubled  in  a  short  time.  At  any  rate, 
sixty-five  were  at  sea  on  the  16th,  and  many  others  are 
probably  out  from  different  ports  which  have  not  been 
reported. 

^^Philadelphia,  July  the  20//*. —  This  day  four  priva- 
teers of  considerable  force  left  the  capes  of  the  Delaware 
on  a  cruise,  and  others  are  preparing  to  follow.  In  the 
latter  part  of  this  month,  prizes  were  almost  daily  pour- 
ing into  most  of  the  Atlantic  ports." 


PRIZES  TAKEN  BY  PRIVATEERS  DURING  THE  MONTH  OF  JULY. 

The  privateer  Paul  Jones,  of  New  York,  captured  the 
British  brig  Ulysses  from  the  West  Indies  for  Halifax, 
and  sent  her  into  Norfolk. 

The  letter-of-marque  Gypsey  of  New  York  for  Bor- 
deaux, was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser,  and  retaken  by 
her  crew  and  carried  safely  into  France. 

Successful  Cruise. — ''Salem,  Jtily  10th.— Last  even- 
ing the  privateer  schooner  Fame,  Captain  Webb,  re- 
turned to  port,  having  taken  a  ship  of  near  300  tons, 
loaded  with  square  timber,  and  a  brig  of  200  tons, 
loaded  with  tar.  The  ship  had  two  four-pounders,  but 
was  prevented  from  firing  or  making  any  defence  by  our 
boarding  her  so  suddenly," 

Jul//  14:th,  the  British  government  transport,  No. 
60,  having  two  guns,  musketry,  etc.,  with  twelve 
men,  prize  to  the  Madison  privateer,  was  sent  into 
Gloucester  ;  she  was  from  Halifax,  bound  to  St,  Johns. 
The  transport  was  under  convoy  of  the  Indian,  British 
sloop-of-war,  but  observing  a  privateer  (supposed  to  be 
the  sloop  Polly),  she  gave  chase  to  her,   and  while  she 


1812.] 


THE     AI\JERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


r,o 


was  absent,  the  Madison  pounced  upon  tlie  trau.si)ort 
and  took  her.  On  board  of  the  transport  were  ibund 
one  hundred  casks  of  gunpowder,  eiglit  lumdred  and 
eighty  suits  of  uniform  for  the  104tli  British  Regiment 
light  infantry,  some  bales  of  superfine  cloths  for  oIHcer's 
uniforms,  ten  casks  of  wine,  drums,  trumpets,  and  other 
camp  equipage.  She  was  a  fine  brig,  290  tons  bur- 
then, and  with  her  cargo,  was  supposed  to  be  worth 
$50,000. 

Arrived  at  Salem,  July  15th  British  sloop  Endeavor, 
Xewnian,  of  Bermuda  from  Newfoundland,  bound  to  St. 
Andrews,  with  sugar,  prize  to  the  privateer-sloop  Polly, 
oi'  tliat  poit.  The  prize-master  of  the  Endeavor  report- 
ed that  off  Cape  Sable,  the  Polly  and  Dolphin  privateers 
discovered  a  ship  and  brig  in  company,  both  of  which 
the  took  to  be  merchantmen,  and  their  determination 
was  in  the  first  place  to  board  the  ship,  but  having  pro- 
ceeded nearly  within  gun-shot  of  her,  discovered  she  was 
an  English  sloop-of-war  of  twenty-two  guns  (probably 
the  Indian),  when  she  immediately  crowded  all  sail  and 
stood  for  the  Polly,  firing  several  shots,  which,  however, 
did  not  reach  her.  It  afterwards  became  calm,  when 
the  sloop-of-war  manned  out  her  launch,  and  several 
boats,  with  about  forty  men ;  coming  within  musket-shot, 
she  gave  three  cheers,  and  commenced  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry  and  one  four-pound  cannon,  which  the  Polly 
immediately  returned  with  such  a  tremendous  fire  of 
musketry  and  langrage,  that  in  a  few  minutes  the  launch 
was  silenced  and  struck  her  colors,  and  the  other  boats 
were  glad  to  return  to  their  ship.  The  sloop-of-war  being 
nearly  within  gun-shot,  the  privateer  took  to  her  sweeps 
and  succeeded  in  making  her  escape. 

The  loss  of  the  Englishman  could  not  be  ascertained, 
but  it  must  have  been  severe.     The  launch  came  up  to 


40 


THE     AMERICAN     PUIVATEERS. 


fl8J2. 


the  Polly  with  sixteen  sweeps — only  five  could  be  seen 
when  she  returned  to  the  ship. 

The  sloop  sustained  no  injury !  The  brig  in-  company 
was  the  transi)ort  which  was  sent  into  Gloucester,  hav- 
ing been  captured  by  the  Madison,  while  the  sloop-of- 
war  was  in  chase  of  the  Polly. 

A  British  schooner  which  had  arrived  at  Amelia 
Island,  about  the  middle  of  July,  from  New  Providence, 
with  $20,000  specie  on  board  was  detained  by  the  re- 
venue-cutter. The  prizes  lately  made  in  that  neighbor- 
hood at  that  time,  were  of  great  value. 

The  privateer  Madison  of  Gloucester,  Mass.,  captured 
a  British  ship  of  twelve  guns.  Ten  or  twelve  prizes  had 
already  reached  Salem.  Seven  privateers  sailed  from 
Baltimore,  on  or  about  the  10th  of  July,  on  a  cruise. 
One  of  them,  the  schooner  llossie,  w\as  commanded  by 
the  celebrated  Commodore  Barney.  Several  others 
were  fitting  out,  and  were  expected  to  sail  in  a  few  days. 

The  American  ship  Margaret,  on  her  passage  from 
Liverpool  to  the  United  States,  loaded  with  a  valuable 
cargo  of  salt,  earthenware,  and  ironmongery.  A  fine 
new  copjicred  vessel  was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser, 
and  afterwards  recaptured  by  the  privateer  Teazer,  of 
New  York.  She  was  sent  to  Portbnd,  where  she  safely 
arrived.  The  ship  and  cargo  were  said  to  be  worth 
$50,000. 

A  British  brig,  four  schooners  and  a  shallop,  laden 
with  dry  goods,  were  sent  into  Salem,  prizes  to  the  pri- 
vateers Jefferson  and  Dolphin. 

Three  Nova  Scotia  shallops,  prizes  to  the  Lion  priva- 
teer, laden  with  West  India  produce,  and  also  a  few 
thousand  dollars,  arrived  at  Marblehead. 

The  Madison  also  captured  the  British  brig  Eliza, 
of  six  guns,  after  a  sharp  engagement.    The  privateer 


1812.] 


TIIK    AMKRICAN    TRIVATKKRS. 


41 


had  but  Olio  gun  ;  she  liad  two  men  wounded.  The 
captain  of  the  Eliza  was  badly  wounded. 

An  English  brig,  laden  with  sugar,  together  with  six 
or  seven  small  vessels  from  Eastport,  had  recently  been 
ciqitured,  and  sent  into  various  eastern  ports. 

By  order  of  Governor  Mitchell,  of  Georgia,  seventeen 
English  vessels,  laden  with  tim])er  for  the  use  of  the 
Ihitish  navy,  were  captured  at  St.  Mary's  and  at  Amelia 
I.sland,  as  soon  as  he  knew  the  declaration  of  war. 

A  line  English  brig  from  Liverpool,  bound  to  St. 
John's,  arrived  at  Marblehead,  a  prize  to  the  privateers 
Lion  and  Snow  Bird.  The  brig  had  six  guns,  but  made 
no  resistance. 

The  first  English  vessel  that  arrived  at  Baltimore  was 
on  the  26tli  of  July,  viz.,  a  British  schooner,  loaded  with 
sugar,  a  prize  to  the  Dolphin.  Her  cargo  was  valued  at 
$18,000. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  BALTIMORE  PAPER,  DATED  JULY  13. 

"  We  are  pleased  to  observe  the  spirit  that  pre- 
vails in  the  eastern  States.  Though  England  has  many 
friends  in  that  region,  a  large  majority  of  the  people  are 
full  of  patriotism,  and  are  determined  to  carry  on  the 
war  with  enterprise  and  vigor,  knowing  that  the  more 
they  distress  the  enemy,  the  sooner  we  shall  have  a  per- 
manent peace.  There  is  not,  perhaps,  one  port  in  the 
whole  of  the  eastern  States  where  they  have  not  one  or 
more  privateers,  and  the  most  of  them  have  sailed  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  We  believe  the  whole  number 
afloat  up  to  this  day  is  about  one  hundred." 


OPINION  OF  THE  ENGLISH  PRESS  ON  THE  WAR. 

I  herewith  insert  the  following  article  extracted  from 
the  London  Statesman  newspaper,  dated  June  the  10th, 


42 


Till:    A.MKIUCAN    I'iUVATEERS. 


L1S12. 


1812, 


ol<i,li( 


(lays   ])i'evi()ii8  to   our  (leclariitioii  of  wjir 


agiiiuKt  Kiij^liind,  This  article  will  serve  to  show  tlmt 
the  o])positioii  or  liberal  party  in  ]Jrilaiii  knew  yomethiiio; 
of  the  American  ehai'acter,  while  the  Tory  aristo(;racy 
were  not  only  blind  to  justice,  but  also  to  their  own  in- 
terest : 

"  It  has  been  stated,  that  in  a  war  with  this  country, 
America  has  nothing  to  gain.  In  opposition  to  this  as- 
sertion it  may  be  said,  with  equal  truth,  that  in  a  war 
with  America,  England  has  nothing  to  gain,  but  much  to 
lose.  Let  us  examine  the  relative  situation  of  the  two 
countries.  Amei'ica  cannot  certainly  pretend  to  wage 
a  maritime  war  with  us.  She  has  no  navy  to  do  it  with. 
But  America  has  nearly  100,000  as  good  seamen  as  any 
in  the  world,  all  of  whom  would  be  actively  employed 
against  our  trade  on  every  part  of  the  ocean  in  their  fast- 
sailing  ships-of-war,  many  of  which  will  be  able  to  cope 
with  our  small  cruizers ;  and  they  will  be  found  to  bo 
sweeping  the  West  India  seas,  and  even  carrying  deso- 
lation into  the  chops  of  the  channel.  Every  one  must 
recollect  what  they  did  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Ameri- 
can war.  The  books  at  Lloyd's  will  recount  it ;  and  the 
rate  of  assurances  at  that  time  will  clearly  prove  what 
their  diminutive  strength  was  able  to  effect  in  the  face 
of  our  navy,  and  that,  when  nearly  one  himdred  pen- 
dants were  flying  on  their  coast.  Were  we  then  able  to 
prevent  their  going  in  and  out,  or  stop  them  from  taking 
our  trade  and  our  storeships,  even  in  sight  of  our  garri- 
sons ?  Besides,  were  they  not  in  the  English  and  Irish 
channels,  picking  up  our  homeward  bound  trade,  send- 
ing their  prizes  into  French  and  Spanish  ports,  to  the 
great  terror  and  annoyance  of  our  merchants  and  ship 
owners  ? 

"  Those  are  facts  which  can  be  traced  to  a  period  when 


1812. 


TlIK    AMEUICAN    rUIVATKKIlS. 


43 


Aniorirji  wii.s  in  hor  infancy,  without  .siri[)s,  witlioiit  wea- 
nien,  witiiout  nioney,  and  at  a  time  whon  our  navy  wa.s 
not  much  Ichs  in  slrongth  than  at  present.  The  Ameri- 
cans will  bo  Ibund  to  be  a  dillerent  sort  of  enemy  by  .sea 
tiian  the  French.  They  possess  nautical  knowhMli^e,  with 
equal  enterprise  to  ourselves.  They  will  be  found  at- 
temptin<jj  deeds  which  a  Frenchman  would  never  think 
of ;  and  they  will  have  all  the  ports  of  our  enemy  open, 
in  which  they  can  make  good  their  retreat  with  their 
booty.  In  a  predatory  war  on  commerce.  Great  Britain 
would  have  more  to  lose  than  to  gain,  bccaui?e  the 
Americans  would  retire  within  themselves,  having  every- 
thing they  want  for  supplies,  and  what  foreign  commerce 
they  might  have,  would  be  carried  on  in  fast-sailing 
armed  ships,  which,  as  heretofore,  woidd  be  able  to 
fight  or  run  away,  as  best  suited  their  force  or  inclina- 
tion. Much  is  also  to  be  apprehended  from  the  deser- 
tion of  our  seamen,  who  will  meet  with  every  encour- 
agement in  the  United  States,  by  protecting  laws  made 
in  their  favor,  perhaps  large  douceurs  offered  for  their 
disafTection,  and  it  is  well  known  the  predilection  which 
our  sailors  have  for  the  American  shores.  These  are 
considerations  which  by  far  outweigh  any  advantages 
that  ought  partially  to  arise  to  individuals  from  a  few 
scattering  prizes  that  might  be  taken  by  our  cruizers. 
Their  harvest  seems  much  more  abundant  under  those 
wretched  and  impolitic  regulations,  called  the  Orders  in 
Council,  the  existence  of  which  gives  rise  to  the  present 
differences  between  the  two  countries,  has  drained  our 
treasury,  and  is  starving  thousands  of  our  manufactur- 
ing brethren.  America  could  sustain  no  possible  injury, 
but  internal  taxation,  from  a  war  with  this  country, 
which  would  not  bear  any  proportion  to  what  we  might 
feel  from  the  circumstances  already  mentioned,  and  from 


t! 

',   t 

11 


u 


TIIK   AMHUICAN    I'UIVATKKUS. 


[1812, 


which  wo  woiiM  most  HCM'iouHly  liavo  to  up[)r('htMid  ;  for 
our  Hliii)s,  without  a  liirgo  mihtury  force,  (hirst  not  enter 
the  ports  of  the  United  States,  and  that  niiUtary  force, 
in  our  present  situation,  is  nowiiore  to  be  found.  Tho 
pr()l)ahle  conse([uence  would  be  the  starvation  of  our 
West  India  colonies,  and  the  loss  of  Ui)i)er,  if  not  of 
Tiowcr  Canada ;  while  the  total  want  of  specie  (which 
latterly  has  been  wholly  drawn  from  the  United  States) 
to  pay  our  tro()[)s  at  Halifax  and  Quebec,  could  not  fail 
to  accelerate  the  mischief." 


rillZKS  TAKEN  DUUIN(J  THE  MONTH  OF  AUGUST. 

The  British  vessel  Wabisch,  laden  with  timber,  and 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  privateer-schooner  Dolphin. 

Schooner  Ani!  sent  into  Charleston,  by  the  privateer 
Nonpareil  of  that  place. 

Ship  Jarrctt,  with  two  guns  and  eighteen  men,  in  bal- 
last, from  Bristol,  England,  for  St.  Andrews,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  that  port.  The  Fair 
Trader  had  one  gun  and  fifteen  men.  The  Englishmen 
refused  to  fight,  and  four  of  them  entered  on  board  the 
privateer. 

Three  schooners  laden  with  pork,  wine,  furs,  cordage, 
etc.,  sent  into  Salem. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  Dolphin  of  Salem, 

and  released,  after  taking  from  on  board  of  her  $1,000 
in  specie,  and  a  quantity  of  beaver  skins. 

Schooner  Ann  Kelly,  of  Halifax,  with  an  assorted 
cargo,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  same. 

Brig  from  St.  Andrews  for  England,  sent  into  Salem 
by  the  Dolphin. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Lion,  of 

that  port,  laden  with  lumber  and  naval  stores. 


1812.] 


THK    AMKUICAN    I'UIVATKKRS. 


45 


Sclioonor ,  IikIlmi  witli  ,sii;^iirund  imli^o,  sent  into 

I'ortluiul  by  tlio  Argus  of  Bo.ston. 

Schooner  Fanny,  IVoni  St.  Oroix  tor  vSt.  Andrews,  in  bal- 
last, Hont  into  Baltimore  by  the  J)()i|)hin,  valued  at  $18,000. 

Shi})  Mary,  from  liristol,  England,  for  St.  .lohn's  car- 
rying Iburteon  heavy  guns,  a  valuable  vessel,  liaving  on 
board  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms  and  ammunition, 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dolphin. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  provisions,  sent  into  Wis- 

cassct,    by  the  Fair  Trader. 

Schooner  Diligent,  with  lifty-five  pipes  of  brandy,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Polly. 

Two  schooners  with  cargoes  of  provisions,  pork,  corn, 
etc.,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Snowbird,  of  that  })lace. 

Schooner  Jane,  from  the  West  Indies  for  llalil'ax,  sent 
into  Marblehead  by  the  Dolphin. 

Ship  Ann  Green,  of  four  hundred  and  thirty  tons, 
carrying  eight  twelve-pounders,  and  two  long-sixes,  an 
excellent  vessel,  from  Jamaica  for  Greenock,  with  a 
cargo  of  rum,  etc.,  valued  at  $50,000,  sent  into  Boston 
by  the  Gossamer,  of  that  port. 

Barque  St.  Andrews,  carrying  eight  guns,  sent  into 
Portland,  by  the  Rapid  of  Boston. 

Schooner  Nelson,  laden  with  oil,  furs,  fish,  etc.,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Buckskin. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  Fame. 

Schooner  Three  Brothers,  sent  into  Boston  by  the 
Wiley  Reynard,  of  that  port. 

Barque ,  sent  into  Portland,  by  the  Catherine  of 

Boston, 

Brig ,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  Polly,  ransomed 

after  taking  out  a  few  bales  of  dry-goods. 

Schooner  Eliza,  of  Halifax,  from  Jamaica,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Polly. 


46 


T'  i:    AMKHICAN    TPIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


Brig  Lady  SlK'rbr'^>ok,  t\vo  himdred  and  fifty  tons  bur- 
then, armed  with  four  six-pounders,  laden  with  lumber 
and  fish,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Marengo  of  that 
port. 

Brig  Elizabeth  and  Esther,  from  St.  Johns,  for  Ber- 
muda, with  a  cargo  of  fish,  pork,  and  some  dry  goods, 
sent  into  Philadelphia,  by  the  Governor  McKean  of 
Philadelphia. 

Brig  Rangei ,  from  St.  Domingo  for  London,  carrying 
six  guns,  laden  with  colTee  and  logwood,  captured  by 
the  Matilda  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent  into  that  port, 
after  a  short  engagement,  in  which  the  British  Captain 
was  mortally  wounded. 

Schooner  Polly,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Wiley  Rey- 
nard. 

A  ship  and  two  brigs  sent  into  Wiscasset,  by  the 
Wiley  Reynard. 

Sloop  Mary  Ann,  laden  with  three  thousand  bushels 
of  salt,  sent  into  Philadelphia  by  the  Paul  Jones,  of 
New  York. 

Ship  Hassan,  of  London,  from  Gibraltar  for  Havana, 
carrying  14  guns,  and  twenty  men,  laden  with  wines, 
dry  goods,  etc.,  w^rth  $200,000,  captured  after  half  an 
hour's  combat,  with  the  loss  of  her  captain,  and  a  boy 
wounded,  by  the  Paul  Jones,  then  of  three  guns.  The 
guns  of  the  Hassan  were  transferred  to  the  privateer, 
and  the  vessel  ordered  for  Savannah. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Greenock  for  Quebec,  a  fine  ves- 
sel, two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  burthen,  carrying  four 
heavy  guns,  laden  with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  sent 
into  New  York  by  the  Yankee,  of  Bristol,  R.  I. 

Brig, ,  captured  by  the  Yankee,  and  given  up  for 

the  purpose  of  disposing  of  her  prisoners. 

Ship    Eraganza,  from  Port-au-Prince,    for   London, 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


47 


mounting  twelve  guns,  burthen  four  hundred  tons, 
deeply  laden  with  coffee  paid  logwood,  captured  and  sent 
into  Baltimore  by  the  Tom  of  that  port,  after  a  running 
fight  of  fifty-five  minutes. 

Brig  Peter  Waldo,  from  Newcastle,  England,  for  Hall- 
lax,  with  a  full  cargo  of  British  manufactures,  clearing 
for  the  captors  $100,000,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 
Teazer,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Prince  Adolphus,  from  }Iartiiiiquc  for  Falmouth, 
England,  mounting  eight  guns,  with  thirty-six  men, 
among  whom  were  the  Governor,  Collector,  and  Post- 
master of  Dcmarara,  sent  into  Philadelphia  by  the  Gov- 
ernor McKean,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Ceres,  a  valuable  vessel,  sent  into  So.lem  by  the 
John,  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  laden  v/ith  timber,  taken  by  a  Salem  pri- 
vateer, recaptured  by  the  English,  and  retaken  and  sent 
into  Gloucester  by  a  Lynn  privateer. 

Brig  William,  from  Bristol,  England,  for  St.  Johns, 
with  a  cargo  of  coal,  butter  and  sundries,  sent  into  Bos- 
ton by  the  Rossie,  Commodore  Barney,  of  Baltimore 

One  ship,  five  brigs  and  a  schooner,  all  laden  with 
lish  and  timber,  captured  by  the  Rossie  and  burned. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Scotland  for  Newfoundland,  captured 
by  the  Yankee  and  released,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners, 
forty-seven  in  number. 

Schooner  Venus, with  one  hundred  and  nineteen  punch- 
eons of  rum,  a  quantity  of  sugar,  fruits,  etc.,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Teazer. 

Ship  Osborne,  ten  guns,  eighteen  pounders,  twenty- 
six  men,  from  Gibraltar  for  St.  Andrews,  in  ballast, 
burthen  five  hundred  tons,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 
Teazer,  after  a  long  fight,  in  which  no  person  on  either 
side  was  injured.     Tt  is  said  the  government  of  Nova 


48 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[18U 


Scotia  offered  $30,000  for  the  Teazer.  This  priva- 
teer carried  only  two  guns,  and  at  the  time  she  captured 
the  Osborne,  had  not  thirty  men. 

Brig  Eliza,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  laden  with  rum 
and  sugar,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Marengo  of  that 
port. 

Brig  Richard,  three  hundred  tons,  laden  with  timber, 
sent  into  Marblchead  by  the  Industry  of  Lynn. 

Brig  Xancy,  with  a  full  cargo  of  provisions,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  Quebec  for  the  West  Indies,  laden 

with  flour,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Bunker  Hill. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Providence  by  the  Leander, 

of  Providence,  R.  I. 

Brig  Leonidas,  of  fourteen  guns ;  a  first-rate  vessel, 
from  Jamaica  for  Belfast,  laden  with  about  two  hundred 
and  thirty  hogsheads  of  sugar,  seventy-five  puncheons 
of  rum,  coffee,  pimento,  etc.,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the 
Mars,  of  Norfolk.  The  brig  was  carried  by  boarding 
after  a  short  resistance,  in  which  she  had  one  man 
wounded. 

Scliooner  Skylark,  from  Quebec  for  Martinique,  laden 
with  provisions,  sent  into  the  port  of  New  York  by  the 
Bunker  Hill. 

Brig  Lady-Provost,  from  Halifax  for  Jamaica,  sent 
into  New  York  by  the  Marengo. 

Brig  Friends,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Benjamin 
Franklin. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Pictou,  for  England,  sent  into  Bos- 
ton by  the  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Ship  Jenny,  twelve  guns,  and  eighteen  men,  from 
Liverpool  for  St.  Johns,  with  salt,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
Rossie. 

Schooner ,  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  tons,  from 


1812.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


49 


Pohite-h,-Pitrc  for  Halifax,  a  very  valuable  vessel,  laden 
with  sugar  and  rum,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer. 

DESPERATE  ENCOUNTER  BETWEEN    THE  PRIVATEER-BRia   YANKE!'] 
AND  THE  BRITISH  LEITER-OF-MARQUE  SHIP  ROYAL  BOUNTY.* 

The  privateer  Yankee  was  cruising  off  the  coast  of 
Nova  Scotia,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1812.  At  noon,  she 
saw  a  large  ship  on  her  lee  bow,  about  four  miles  dis- 
tant, and  made  all  sail  in  chase.  At  one  p.m.  she  pre- 
pared for  action.  The  privateer  being  to  windward,  she 
ran  down  on  the  ship's  weather-quarter,  and  gave  her 
the  first  division,  and  soon  after,  as  she  doubled  on  the 
enemy,  gave  her  the  entire  broadside. 

The  ship  soon  returned  the  compliment,  and  the  action 
was  continued  with  spirit  on  both  sides.  The  two  ves- 
sels being  near  each  other,  the  Yankee's  marines  poured 
a  continued  volume  from  her  small  arms,  which  was  very 
destructive  to  her  adversary. 

The  privateer *j  shot  soon  cut  the  ship's  sails  and  rig- 
ging to  pieces,  and  killed  the  helmsman.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments after,  the  ship  became  unmanageable.  The  Yan- 
kee then  ran  off  a  short  distance  and  luffed-to  athwart 
the  bows  of  the  foe,  and  gave  him  a  raking  broadside, 
keeping  up  at  the  same  time  a  constant  shov/er  of  mus- 
ketry, which  soon  compelled  the  enemy  to  strike  his  colors. 

The  ship  proved  to  be  the  Royal  Bounty,  Captain 
Henry  Gambles.  She  was  a  fine  ship  of  658  tons, 
mounting  ten  guns,  with  twenty-five  men.  She  ^vas  from 
Hull,  in  ballast,  seven  weeks  out,  and  bound  to  Prince 
Edward's  Island.  The  privateer  took  out  the  prisoners, 
and  manned  the  prize  for  the  United  States. 

Tlie  Yankee  had  three  men  wounded,  with  her  sails 
find  rigging  somewhat  damaged. 

*  See  Appendix. 


HI 


50 


THE    AMERICAN    PUIVATEEKS. 


L1812. 


The  Royal  Bounty  had  two  men  killed ;  the  captain 
and  six  officers  and  seamen  wounded. 

The  action  lasted  one  hour. 

The  ship  was  terribly  cut  up  in  her  sails  and  rigging. 
All  her  boats  were  stove,  and  more  than  one  hundred 
and  nrty  shot  of  different  sizes  passed  through  her  sails, 
or  lodged  in  her  hull  and  spars. 

The  wounded  prisoners  were  carefully  attended  by 
the  Yankee's  surgeon. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

One  brig  and  a  schooner  captured  by  the  Rossie,  and 
sent  to  Newfoundland,  with  the  crews  of  the  above  ves- 
sels, one  hundred  and  eight  in  numljer,  on  parole  and 
receipt  for  exchange. 

Commodore  Barney  sent  his  compliments  to  Admiral 
Sawyer,  desiring  the  poor  fellows  might  be  fairly  treated, 
and  promising  a  larger  suppfy  very  soon. 

Schooner  Perseverance,  from  St.  Augustine  for  Nas- 
sau, in  ballast,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Nonsuch,  of 
Baltimore. 

Ship  Sir  Simon  Clark,  sixteen  guns,  thirty-nine  men, 
from  Jamaica  for  Leith,  with  a  cargo  of  sugar,  rum, 
coffee,  etc.,  worth  from  $100,000  to  $150,000,  sent  into 
Norfolk  by  the  Globe  ;  she  was  gallantly  carried  by  board- 
ing, after  a  brisk  cannonade  of  a  few  minutes. 

The  British  ship  had  four  men  killed,  with  the  Cap- 
tain and  three  others  severely  wounded.  The  second 
Lieutenant  and  drummer  w^ere  killed  on  board  the  Globe, 
and  one  Avounded. 

Brig  Honduras  Packet,  two  guns  and  twelve  men, 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  rum  and  dry-goods,  from  Ja- 
maica for  the  City  of  St.  Domingo,  sent  into  Charleston 
by  the  Mary  Ann  of  that  port. 


1812.] 


THE    AMEUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


51 


Brig  Amelia,  ten  guns  and  seventeen  men,  from  Malta 
for  Havana,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  wine,  castile  soap, 
oil,  etc.,  etc,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Mary- Ann  car- 
ried but  one  gun  and  fifty  men. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Gonaives  for  Jamaica,  laden 
with  cotton,  captured  by  the  Mary  Ann,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  (armed)  after  a  smart  brush  taken 

by  the  Mary  Ann,  and  discharged  to  release  her  pris- 
oners. 

Schooner  Union,  from  Jamaica  for  Quebec,  with  146 
puncheons  of  rum  ;  vessel  and  cargo  worth  $30,000, 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  John,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Elizabeth,  from  Gibraltar  for  Quebec,  in  ballast, 
burthen  300  tons,  four  guns  and  twelve  men,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  John. 

Three  brigs,  laden  with  lumber,  taken  by  the  John 
and  released. 

A  schooner  and  a  sloop,  'from  St.  Johns  for  Halifax, 
laden  with  Inmber,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Orlando, 
of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  with  a  full  cargo 

of  rum,  sent  into  Charleston,  by  the  Bunker-Hill,  of 
New  York. 

Brig  James,  sent  into  Falmouth,  by  the  Bunker 
Hill. 

Ship  Apollo,  eight  guns,  burthen  400  tons,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  John. 

In  Long  Island  Sound,  a  deeply  laden  brig,  from  Ja- 
maica, prize  to  the  Teazer  privateer. 

A  schooner,  from  Jamaica,  with  160  puncheons  of 
rum,  prize  to  the  John. 

The  John  had  taken  three  new  brigs,  bound  from 
Halifax  to  England,  laden  with  lumber.  Also  one  ship 
of  400  tons,  coppered,  in  ballast ;  having  eight  eigh teens.. 


m 


62 


TilK   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


The  John  was  left  in  chase  of  a  ship  from  England  of 
400  tons,  laden  with  dry  goods. 

Schooner  Sally,  of  Cape  Ann,  from  Cayenne,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  molasses,  was  sent  into  Newport  on  the  10th 
of  July,  by  a  privateer  belonging  to  that  place. 

The  privateer  ship  Alfred,  of  sixteen  guns  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty  men,  sailed  from  Salem  on  a  cruise 
the  16th  of  August. 

Philadelphia,  August  20th.  -  "The  privateer-schooner 
Shadow  is  below.  She  put  into  port  in  distress,  having 
been  damaged  in  an  action  with  a  letter-of-marque. 
Captain  Taylor  had  2  men  killed  and  12  Avounded." 

Privateer  Globe,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  Hampton 
Roads,  accompanied  by  a  very  largo  British  ship,  show- 
ing twenty-two  giuis.  She  was  from  Jamaica,  bound 
for  Glasgow,  and  richly  laden.  The  ship  came  up  the 
bay,  and  the  Globe  proceeded  again  to  sea  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

Schooner  Ann,  another  prize  to  the  Globe,  carrying 
four  guns,  laden  with  logwood  and  mahogany,  arrived 
at  Baltimore.  It  is  stated  that  several  of  the  crews  of 
these  prizes  entered  as  seamen  on  board  of  the  Globe. 

The  Eliza  Ann,  from  Liverpool,  for  Baltimore,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  British  goods,  has  been  sent  into  Boston  by 
the  privateer  Yankee.  Several  other  vessels  in  like  cir- 
cumstances have  been  sent  into  port  by  our  privateers. 

The  privateer  Benjamin  Franklin  arrived  at  New 
York,  with  twenty-eight  prisoners,  after  a  month's  cruise, 
during  which  she  captured  seven  British  vessels,  most  of 
them  armed,  and  bound  to  England  with  lumber. 

The  privateer  John,  Captain  Crowninshield,  of  Salem, 
of  sixteen  guns  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  re- 
turned to  port  after  a  short  cruise  of  about  three  weeks. 
During  this  time,  she  made  eleven  captures  ;  two  had 


1812.] 

arrived, 
not  then 


"The 
loaded  h 
goods. 
Buckskii 
Polly,  Ic 
cases  of 
Buckskii 
with  mi 
Pearson 
Buckskii 
Maidston 

"The 
twenty  ( 
The  Dol^ 
smallest  i 
lish,  and 
escaped. 
est  kindi 
found  gr 
prisoners 
return  or 

EXTRACT 


"Onth 
at  half-pj 
and  West 
boarded  t 
Provident 
men  and 


-tl 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


53 


arrived,  three  were  destroyed,  one  retaken,  and  the  rest 
not  then  heard  of. 

EXTllACT  FROM  A  SALEM  PAPER. 

"The  privateer  Buckskin,  of  Salem,  has  taken  four 
loaded  schooners,  one  of  them  with  fish  and  p]nglish 
goods.  She  has  also  retaken  a  Kennebunk  brig.  The 
Buckskin  spoke  yesterday  in  the  bay  a  prize  to  the  sloop 
Folly,  loaded  with  fifty-five  pipes  of  brandy  and  two 
cases  of  pocket-books.  Among  the  prizes  taken  by  the 
Buckskin  was  a  schooner  from  Halifax  for  Quebec,  laden 
with  military  stores,  on  board  of  which  was  Colonel 
Pearson  of  the  British  army,  his  lady  and  family.  The 
Buckskin  also  recaptured  the  brig  Hesper,  taken  by  the 
Maidstone  frigate. 

"  The  privateer  Dolphin,  after  a  successful  cruise  of 
twenty  days,  returned  to  Salem  on  the  23d  of  July. 
The  Dolphin  has  taken  six  prizes  without  receiving  the 
smallest  injury.  She  was  repeatedly  chased  by  the  Eng- 
lish, and  at  one  time  for  twenty-four  hours,  but  finally 
escaped.  She  has  treated  her  prisoners  with  the  great- 
est kindness.  In  rowing  away  from  men-of-war,  she 
found  great  aid  from  their  voluntary  assistance.  The 
prisoners  said  they  had  much  rather  go  to  America  than 
return  on  board  a  British  man-of-war." 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  SCHOONER  HIGHFLYER, 

OF  BALTIMORE. 

"  On  the  26th  of  July,  off  the  Double-headed  Shot  Keys, 
at  half-past  four  p.m.,  discovered  a  sail  standing  North 
and  West ;  gave  chase.  At  seven  p.m.  came  up  with  and 
boarded  the  British  schooner  Harriet,  in  ballast  from  New 
Providence,  bound  to  Havana.  She  carried  three  black 
men  and  one  boy,  two  gentlemen  and  one  lady  passen- 


64 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


gers.  Put  on  board  Captain  Taylor  as  prize-master,  and 
ordered  her  for  the  first  i)ort  in  the  United  States.  The 
next  day  the  Cai)tain  of  the  Harriet  informed  Cai)tain 
Gavet  that  there  was  money  coneealcd  on  board  ;  we 
boarded  her,  and  found  $8,000  in  specie.  Next  day, 
stood  through  the  Gulf.  On  the  19th  August,  latitude 
9°  22',  at  six  a.m.,  discovered  a  fleet  bearing  S.S.W., 
distant  two  leagues  ;  wore  ship  and  made  sail,  endeavor- 
ing to  get  to  the  windward,  for  the  purpose  of  recoii- 
noitering  them.  Next  day,  at  half-past  one  p.m.,  the 
frigate  from  the  fleet  gave  chase  to  us,  steering  various 
courses.  At  five  p.m.  dropped  him,  still  pursuing  the 
squadron.  At  six  saw  them  bearing  North.  The  next 
day,  21st,  at  five  p.m.,  the  wind  moderate,  brought-to 
and  boarded  the  British  ship  Diana,  Captain  Harvey,  one 
of  the  Jamaica  fleet,  bound  to  Bristol,  burthen  353  tons, 
laden  with  rum,  sugar,  coffee,  etc.  Took  out  her  crew, 
sent  a  prize-master  and  ten  men  on  board,  and  ordered 
her  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States.  At  the  same 
time  two  other  sail  in  sight ;  at  six  a.m.,  bore  down  on 
them,  fired  three  or  four  shots  at  them,  which  were  re- 
turned by  both  ships.  22d,  at  two  p.m.,  engaged  the 
two  ships  at  half  gun  shot,  and  after  firing  on  them  up- 
wards of  sixty  shots,  the  breeze  blowing  fresh,  not  think- 
ing it  safe  to  board  them,  at  four  p.m.  hauled  ofif.  Next 
day,  at  four  p.m.,  wind  moderating,  bore  down,  and  en- 
gaged the  sternmost  ship,  called  the  Jamaica,  of  Liver- 
pool, Captain  Neil,  of  seven  guns,  twenty-one  men,  365 
tons,  in  company  with  the  ship  Mary  and  Ann,  of  Lon- 
don, Captain  Miller,  mounting  twelve  guns,  eighteen 
men,  and  329  tons  burden.  When  within  musket  shot, 
we  commenced  a  brisk  fire  from  our  great  guns  and 
musketry,  which  was  returned  with  great  courage  and 
resolution   from  both   ships.     The   engagement  lasted 


1812.] 


THE     AMKUICAN     PIllVATEEKS. 


twenty  minutes,  when  we  boarded  and  carried  the  Ja- 
maica, the  Mary  and  Ann  striking  her  colors  at  the  same 
time.  It  is  with  pleasure  we  state  that  every  man  and 
officer  acted  with  great  courage  and  determined  resolu- 
tion, but  we  are  sorry  to  announce  that  Captain  (javet 
was  unfortunately  wounded  about  the  middle  of  the 
action,  by  a  musket  ball,  which  passed  through  his  right 
arn:;  ;  also  one  ordinary  seaman,  slightly  wounded  in  the 
cheek.  The  Highflyer  received  several  shot  in  her  sails  ; 
her  gib  and  flying  jib-stay  were  shot  away,  and  lier  forc- 
juast  wounded.  Manned  both  ships  ;  put  Mr.  Brown 
(prize-master)  and  eight  men  on  board  the  Mary  and  Ann, 
and  Mr.  Grant  and  fourteen  men  on  board  the  Jamaica, 
and  ordered  them  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States. 
J)Oth  ships  were  richly  laden  with  sugar,  rum,  cofiee, 
logwood,  etc.  Several  of  their  seamen  were  wounded, 
but  none  killed.     The  prizes  arrived  safely." 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  GLOBE,  OP 

BALTIMORE. 


"On  the  24/7i  Jul//,  the  Globe  left  the  Capes  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay,  in  company  with  the  letter-of-marque 
Cora,  and  proceeded  to  sea.  The  Globe  was  well  man- 
ned, having  a  crew  of  eighty  seamen,  all  in  good 
spirits. 

"  On  the  25th,  spoke  the  ship  Marmion,  from  New 
Orleans  for  Baltimore. 

"  26th — Spoke  the  ship  South  Carolina,  from  the  same 
port,  bound  for  the  same  place-  Boarded  a  large  ship 
from  Havana  for  New  York,  all  well. 

"  27th — Boarded  a  schooner  from  the  West  Indies,  for 
New  England,  which  had  fallen  in  with  four  sail  of  mer- 
chantmen, without  convoy,  three  days  before.    Brought- 


GO 


TU1-:     AMKKICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


fi8i: 


to  scliooiier  Polly  of  Boxtoii,  froin  Iluvtina  for  New  York, 
examined  her  papers,  etc. 

"  30//i — Brought-to  ship  Camilla,  of  Philadelpliia,  from 
Cadiz  for  the  same  port.  Boarded  a  Swedish  schooner 
from  St.  Bart's,  for  Norfolk,  and  while  overhauling 
her,  being  at  the  mast-head,  discovered  a  sail  ahead, 
which  we  gave  chase  to,  but  lost  her  in  the  night. 

"  31.s7 — Saw  a  sail  to  which  we  gave  chase,  and  in 
about  three  hours  were  within  gun-shot,  when  we  com- 
menced firing.  She  hoisted  British  colors,  and  returned 
fire  with  her  stern-chasers,  two  long-nines,  which 
was  continued  for  about  forty  nunutes,  against  our  long 
nine  (midships),  that  being  the  only  gun  we  could  get 
to  bear,  as  it  was  blowing  fresh  and  she  crowded  all  sail ; 
when  we  got  close  enough  we  began  to  fire  broadsides 
(charged  with  round  shot,  double  shotted,  and  then  with 
langrage  and  round),  which  she  returned,  broadside 
for  broadside  ;  when  we  got  within  musket-shot  and  fired 
several  vollies  into  her  she  struck,  after  a  brisk  en- 
gagement of  an  hour  and  a  half. 

"She  proved  to  be  the  English  lotter-of-marque  ship 
Boyd,  from  New  Providence,  for  Liverpool,  laden  with 
coffee,  dye-woods,  and  cotton,  mounting  ten  guns, 
viz.,  two  long-nines,  two  short-twelves,  and  six  long-sixes. 
None  hurt  on  either  side.  Our  sails  and  rigging  very 
much  cut  up.  Their  boats  were  destroyed,  rigging  and 
sails  cut  to  pieces,  and  several  shot  in  the  hull ;  took 
out  all  the  crew  except  the  mate  and  two  men,  put  a 
prize-master  and  eight  men  on  board,  and  ordered  her 
for  Baltimore  ;  arrived  at  Philadelphia.  The  prisoners 
treated  as  well  as  our  own  crew. 

"August  1st — Parted  with  the  Boyd,  and  went  in  quest 
of  two  other  English  vessels  which  we  expected  this  way. 
Repaired  damages  ;  seven  prisoners  entered  as  seamen. 


1812.] 


TIIK    AMERICAN    PRIVATKKRS. 


67 


Saw  a  schooner  and  gave  chase,  hut  lost  lier  in  tlie 
night  ;  saw  another  sail  the  same  night,  which  also  es- 
caped. 

"  At  eleven  a.m.  saw  Bermuda,  we  passed  within  gun- 
shot ;  cruised  o(F  under  British  colors. 

"  3f/. — At  sunset,  saw  a  sail  ahead,  standing  toward  us, 
when  we  got  near  enough,  manceuvred  for  two  hours  ;  she 
;il)[)eared  to  be  an  English  sh)op-of-war ;  she  gave  chase, 
but  soon  gave  it  up,  as  she  did  not  make  any  way 
with  us.  • 

"  Uli — Saw  a  schooner  to  windward,  and  chased  all 
(lay,  sweeps  out  from  four  to  eight  p.m.;  she  altered  her 
course,  and  escaped  under  cover  of  the  night. 

"  Sth — Officers  and  men  put  on  an  allowance  of  three 
quarts  of  water  per  day,  for  cooking,  etc. 

"  ^th — The  seamen  exchanged  their  liquor,  quart  for 
quart,  for  water. 

"  Xith — Saw  a  sail  ahead  to  which  wo  gave  chase,  and 
captured  without  resistance.  She  proved  to  be  the 
British  schooner  Ann,  from  the  City  of  St.  Domingo  for 
Guernsey,  laden  with  mahogany  and  logwood  ;  mounts 
four  guns,  and  carries  nine  men,  (arrived.)" 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Elizabeth,  ten  guns,  twelve-pounders,  from  Ja- 
maica for  England,  laden  with  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  hogsheads  of  sugar,  some  tierces  and  barrels  of  do., 
with  a  quantity  of  coffee  and  ginger,  etc.;  sent  into 
Charleston  by  the  Sarah  Ann,  of  Baltimore,  after  a  smart 
action,  in  which  four  men  were  wounded  on  board  the 
ship,  and  two  on  board  the  privateer. 

Schooner  James,  from  Porto  Rico  for  Martinique,  in 
ballast,  sent  into  Baltimore  by  the  Dolphin,  of  that  port. 
The  Dolphin  destroyed  several  droggers. 


r^s 


nil-:    A.Mi:iM(;.\N    I'ltlVATIlKUS. 


[IH12. 


Brig  IMirsuit,  fiom  I'oolo  for  St.  Andrews,  Hciit  into 
Porlliind  by  the   Uuiiid,  privateer. 

Bri*,' Tiiy,  from  Diiiidoe  fur  J'ictou,  N.  B.,  sent  into 
rortliind  l)y  the  Bnpid. 

Sliij)  Briliuiiiiii,  nix  giiiiH,  .050  tons,  a  new  vessel  in 
l)iilliist,  from  Port.sinouth,  Engluiid,  for  lliilifux,  sent 
into by  tlic  Tin-asher,  privateer. 

Bri«^  Howe,  six  guns,  in  ballast,  from  Penzance  for 
Pictou,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Dart,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Elizaljelh,  of  Liverpool,  105  tons,  laden  with 
coal,  sent  into  New})ort,  II.  I.,  by  the  Deeatur,  privateer. 

tShip ,  from  Jamaica,  for  London,  sent  into  Cape 

Ann. 

Ship ,  fourteen  guns  and  twenty-five  men,  bur- 
then 450  tons,  laden  with  449  lihds.  of  sugar,  140  pun- 
cheons of  rum,  etc.,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Ilevcnge, 
privateer. 

Brig  Ocean,  seven  guns,  twenty-six  men,  from  Ja- 
maica, for  White  Haven,  laden  with  sugar  and  rum,  sent 
into  New  York  by  the  Saratoga,  of  that  port. 

Ship  Esther,  twelve  guns,  twenty-five  men,  a  valuable 
vessel,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Montgomery,  of 
Salem. 

Ship  Quebec,  from  Jamaica,  sixteen  guns,  fifty-two 
men,  burthen  400  tons,  laden  with  sugar,  etc.,  valued  at 
$300,000,  sent  .into  New  York  by  the  Saratoga.  Her 
cargo  consists  of  334  hhds.  of  sugar,  59  puncheons  of 
rum,  C3G  bales  of  cotton,  52  tierces  of  coffee,  52^  tons 
of  logwood,  70  tons  fustic,  1  ton  ebony,  a  quantity  of 
old  copper,  a  quantity  of  hides  and  spars.  The  Sara- 
toga returned  to  port  with  between  seventy  and  eighty 
prisoners  on  board,  nearly  as  many  as  her  crew  at  pre- 
sent consists  of. 

Ship  Richmond,  fourteen  guns,  twenty-five  men,  be- 


1812.] 


Till-:     AMKUICAN     TIM  VATKRRS. 


59 


,si(lo  ollicers,  800  toius  burtlii'ii,  dc^oply  IjuUmi  wltli  West 
liuliii  produce,  worth  $200, OOO,  Ciipturod  on  lior  voya;;*' 
tVoin  .liiiniiicii  for  London,  and  hcmiI  into  l*orl,sniouth  by 
the  priviitocr  Tlioinus. 

Ship  Adonis,  ot'Orecnock,  twolvo  guns  jind  Iwonty-livo 
niun,  a  vuhuiblo  vessel,  in  ballast  IVoni  Xevvi'uundland,  tor 
Xova  Scotia,  sent  into  Haloni  by  the  Montgomery,  pri- 
vateer. 

Ship  Falmouth,  fourteen  guns,  thirty  men,  from  Ja- 
maica, for  Bristol  (E.),  with  a  cargo  valued  at  $1^00,000, 
bCnt  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Thomas,  of  that  j)ort. 

JJrig  Two  Friends,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Benjamin 
Franklin,  privateer. 

Snow  Friends,  six  guns,  burthen  290  tons,  ladeu  with 
timber,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Dart. 

Schooner  Trial,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Leader,  of 
Providence. 

Schooner  John  and  George,  sent  into  Boston  by  the 
Regulator,  jDrivateer. 

Ship ,  chiefly  laden  with  rum,  sent  into  Wilming- 
ton, North  Carolina,  by  the  Poor  Sailor,  of  Charleston. 

Brig ,  with  2G0  hhds.  of  rum,  sent  into  Portland 

by  the  Dart. 

Schooner  Mary  Ann,  with  a  cargo  ofrum  and  coffee,  sent 
into  Norfolk  by  the  privateer  Black  Joke,  of  New  York. 

Brig  Hannah,  from  Oporto  for  Quebec,  with  rum  and 
fruit,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Montgomery. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Lisbon  for  Halifax,  with  some 
specie,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  same. 

Brig ,  sent  into  Castine  by  the  Dart. 

Brig  Pomona,  two  guns,  captured  by  the  Decatur  and 
sent  to  Halifax  as  a  cartel  with  prisoners. 

Brig  Devonshire,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by  the  same, 
and  sent  to  France  to  sell  her  cargo. 


GO 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


Brig  Concord,  captured  by  the  Dart  and  burnt. 

Brig  Hope,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  Hahfax 
with  prisoners,  as  above. 

The  Decatur  returned  to  port  after  a  cruise  of  forty- 
seven  days,  during  which  she  captured  eleven  vessels, 
several  of  them  very  large  and  valuable.  ' 

Schooner  Minorca,  from  Jamaica,  for  Cuba,  sent  mto 
Savannah  by  the  Wasp,  of  Baltimore. 

Barque  William  and  Charlotte,  sent  into  Boston  by 
the  Decatur,  privateer. 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  NEW  YORK  NEWSPAPER,  DATED  AUGUST  20. 

"We  observe  with  much  pride  and  pleasure,  tl^n+ 
the  conduct  of  our  privateersmen  is  in  general  so 
correct  and  liberal  as  to  command  the  respect  of  their 
enemies,  and  to  afford  no  room  for  the  clamor  of  those 
opposed  to  the  system  of  privateering." 

"  Magnanimity — Arrived  at  New  York  on  the  24th 
instant,  the  schooner  Industry,  Captain  Renncaux,  prize 
to  the  Benjamin  Franklin,  privateer. 

The  Industry  is  laden  with  pickled  salmon,  is  worth 
about  $2,000,  and  was  captured  near  the  Anglo-Amei 
ican  coast,  in  order  to  prevent  her  giving  information 
to  Rome  British  cruisers  of  the  Benjamin  Franklin's  be- 
ing in  those  seas. 

The  owners  of  the  privateer,  on  being  apprized  that 
the  Industry  belonged  to  a  poor  widow  who  had  a  famiiy, 
promptly  directed  her  to  be  restored.  We  are  informed 
that  they  have  also  taken  such  measures  as  will  pre- 
vent the  consequences  of  the  war  from  operating  in  this 
instance  to  the  injury  of  the  indigent  and  unfortunate." 

Portsmouth,  August  18//« — The  privateer-schooner 
Thomas,  Captain  Shaw,  eleven  guns  and  one  hundred 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


61 


men,  and  privateer-sloop  Science,  Fernald,  sailed  from 
this  port  on  a  cruise.  Two  other  privateers  were  fitting 
out  at  the  same  time. 

Norfolk,  Sept.  3c? — The  schooner  Hornet,  a  privateer 
fitted  out  in  Baltimore,  was  run  ashore  nineteen  miles 
to  the  South  of  Cape  Henry,  by  a  British  man-of-war, 
and  bilged. 

Commodore  Barney  arrived  at  Newport  on  the  30th 
ot  August,  in  his  schooner  Rossie,  from  a  short 
but  successful  cruise  of  forty-five  days,  along  tlie 
eastern  coast  of  the  United  States.  During  his  absence 
he  captured  fifteen  vessels  nine  of  the  number  he  burned 
or  sunk.  The  vessels  captured  amounted  to  about 
2,914  tons,  and  were  manned  by  IGG  men.  The  esti- 
mated value  of  these  vessels  was  $1,289,000.  Commo- 
dore Barney  remained  in  this  port  about  eight  or  ten 
days  to  water,  provision,  and  refresh  the  crew  of  his 
privateer,  for  another  cruise. 

During  his  stay  in  this  port,  the  writer  of  these  pages 
had  the  ple^isure  of  lodging  in  the  same  hotel  with  him, 
and  dining  daily  at  the  same  table  in  his  society.  He 
was  very  agri^eable  and  gentlemanly  in  conversation, 
full  of  life  and  animation,  very  enthusiastic  in  character, 
and  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  patriotic  hero.  If 
fighting  was  the  order  of  the  day,  he  was  always  sure 
to  be  found  in  the  midst  of  it.  On  his  return  to  Bal- 
timore I  shall  give  an  extract  from  his  journal  in  its 
proper  place 

The  Lewis,  of  New  London  (she  had  but  four  guns 
and  forty-five  men),  was  sent  into  Halifax,  but  previous 
to  her  capture  she  fell  in  with,  and  seized  a  most  valu- 
able English  ship  of  eight  guns,  richly  laden,  for  Quebec, 
which  paid  the  privateersmen  very  abundantly  for  their 
losses. 


62 


TUB   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE  PRIVATEER-SCHOONER 
SHADOW,  OF  THIIiADELPHIA. 

"  On  the  3d  of  August,  at  half-past  twelvn  (meridian), 
discovered  a  sail ;  called  all  hands  to  quarters,  and  made 
all  necessary  sail  in  chase.  At  half-past  five  p.".,  came 
up  with  the  chase,  and  perceived  she  was  a  British  man- 
of-war  ;  took  in  the  square-sail  and  stay-sail,  and  hauled 
by  the  wind ;  at  the  same  time  she  tacked  for  us,  com- 
mencing a  brisk  fire.     At  eight  p.m.  lost  sight  of  her. 

"  On  the  4th  of  August,  at  half-past  twelve  (meridian), 
saw  a  sail  to  the  eastward  standing  westward ;  made  all 
necessary  sail  in  chase.  At  half-past  five  p.m.  carried 
away  the  square-sail  boom  ;  cut  the  wreck  adrift ;  rigged 
out  the  lower  studding-sail  boom,  and  set  her  square- 
sail  again,  coming  up  with  the  chase.  At  six  p.m.,  being 
within  gun-shot,  she  commenced  firing  from  her  stern 
guns.  At  seven  p.m.  came  up  with  her,  and  commenced 
an  action  ;  at  half-past  seven  the  ship  hoisted  a  light  in 
her  mizzen  rigging,  which  was  answered  by  a  light  from 
us  ;  at  the  same  time  hailed  her.  She  hailed  from  Liv- 
erpool, when  Captain  Taylor  ordered  her  to  send  her 
boat  on  board  with  her  papers,  which  she  in  part  com- 
plied with,  by  sending  her  boat  with  an  officer  and  two 
men,  whom  we  detained,  and  gave  directions  to  man  the 
boat  with  our  crew,  board  the  ship  and  demand  her 
papers.  These  orders  were  delivered  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Yorke,  who  received  for  answer,  that  such  a  demand 
would  not  be  complied  with,  at  the  same  time  handing 
him  a  note  addressed  to  Captain  Taylor,  purporting  that 
his  ship  was  a  British  letter-of-marque,  called  the  May, 
from  Liverpool,  bound  to  St.  Lucia,  commanded  by 
Captain  Affleck,  mounting  fourteen  guns  and  fifty  men. 
He  also  stated  that  the  Orders  in  Council  had  been  re- 


1S12.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEEUS. 


sciiidod,  and  a  change  of  ministry  taken  place  in  Eng- 
land. The  note  was  handed  to  Captain  Taylor.  The 
boat  was  again  sent  on  board,  with  a  note  from  our 
Captain,  demanding  his  papers,  which  were  refused.  At 
half-past  eight  o'clock,  a  brisk  fire  commenced  on  both 
sides,  during  which  time,  William  Craft,  sailmaker,  was 
wounded.  At  ten  p.m.,  dropped  astern,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  lying  by  all  night  within  gun-shot ;  at  intervals 
kept  up  a  brisk  fire  ;  weather  squally  and  dark. 

"At  daylight,  ranged  up  under  her  stern  and  com- 
menced a  severe  action,  when  we  received  a  shot  in  our 
starboard  bow  which  shattered  the  wooden  ends,  started 
the  plank  shear,  and  broke  several  timbers.  At  half- 
past  seven  a.m.  received  another  in  our  larboard  bow; 
struck  the  larboard  after-gun-carriage  ;  killed  six  men 
and  wounded  three.  At  half-past  eight  a.m.,  our  com- 
mander received  a  ball  in  his  left  temple,  which  instantly 
terminated  his  existence,  to  the  inexpressible  regret  of 
all  hands.  About  the  same  time  a  shot  struck  under 
the  larboard  fore-chains,  between  wind  and  water,  which 
caused  the  vessel  to  leak  badly  ;  found  three  feet  water 
in  the  hold  on  sounding  the  pumps." 

The  Shadow  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  was  refitted,  and 
soon  sailed  on  another  cruise. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Grenada,  eleven  guns,  thirty  men,  700  tons 
burthen,  laden  with  700  hhds.  of  sugar,  with  large  quan- 
tities of  cotton  and  coffee,  from  Pointe-a-Pitre,  Guada- 
loupe,  for  London,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Young 
Eagle,  of  New  Yoi-k. 

Schooner  Shadock,  also  armed,  from  Antigua,  for  Liv- 
erpool, laden  with  molasses,  in  company  with  the  Gren- 
ada, sent  into  New  York  by  the  Young  JBagle.     The 


04 


THE     AMERICAN     rillVATEERS. 


Lisi? 


Eagle  carried  but  one  gun  and  forty-tw)  men.  She  en- 
gaged the  Grenada  and  Sliadock  at  the  same  time,  and 
in  an  hour  and  a-half  captured  them  both.  The  Captain 
of  the  Shadock  was  killed,  and  two  of  his  men  wounded ; 
three  men  were  wounded  on  board  the  ship  ;  no  person 
hurt  belonging  to  the  privateer. 

Brig  Roebuck,  with  a  full  cargo  of  rum,  from  Gre- 
nada, for  Jersey,  sent  into  Norfolk  by  the  Rosamond,  of 
New  York.  The  Roebuck  is  a  very  valuable  vessel, 
formerly  belonging  to  the  United  States,  but  peaceably 
caf)tured  under  the  Orders  in  Council. 

Brig  Henry,  from  Gibraltar,  sent  into  Newport,  R.  I., 
by  the  Yankee,  of  Bristol. 

Ship  Hopewell,  fourteen  guns,  twenty-five  men,  from 
Surinam,  for  London,  burthen  upwards  of  400  tons, 
laden  with  710  hhds.  of  sugar,  54  hhds.  of  molasses.  111 
bales  of  cotton,  200  bags  and  casks  of  coffee  and  cocoa, 
captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  that 
port  after  an  obstinate  engagement,  in  w'hich  one  man 
was  killed  and  six  wounded  on  board  the  ship  ;  two  of 
the  privateer's  men  were  wounded.  The  Hopewell 
sailed  from  Surinam,  in  company  with  five  other  ships, 
from  which  she  parted  but  two  days  before  ;  the  Comet 
went  in  search  of  them,  every  sail  set.  The  Hopewell 
was  worth  $150,000.  Her  late  Captain  bears  the  most 
honorable  testimony  to  the  bravery  of  the  crew  of  the 
Comet. 

Brig  Hazard,  from  Newcastle,  for  Newfoundland,  in 
ballast,  burthen  233  tons,  carrying  six  twelve  pounders. 
An  excellent  vessel,  first  captured  by  the  Dolphin,  of 
Salem,  recaptured  by  the  Eolus  frigate,  and  sent  into 
Boston  by  the  United  States  ship  Wasp. 

Schooner  Forebe  and  Phosbe,  sent  into  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  by  the  Squando  of  that  port. 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


G5 


Brig  Thetis,  by  the  Yankee  of  Bristol,  burnt. 

Brig  Alfred,  by  the  Yankee,  destroyed  also. 

Brig  Antelope,  by  the  Dolphin  of  Salem,  sent  into  that 
port. 

Ship  Kitty,  by  the  Rossie,  of  Baltimore,  sent  into  an 
eastern  port. 

Schooner  Spunk,  by  the  Fair  Trader,  of  Salem,  sent 
into  that  port. 

Schooner  Providence,  captured  by  the  Wiley  Reynard, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  an  eastern  port. 

Ship  Guayana,  carrying  eight  guns,  burthen  300  tons, 
from  Liverpool,  for  New  York,  with  salt,  crates,  etc., 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dromo,  of  Boston.  This  was  an 
A.merican  Ship  and  British  property. 

Barque  Duke  of  Savoy,  eight  guns,  twenty  men,  sent 
into  Salem  by  the  Decatur,  of  Newburyport.  The  De- 
catur having  thrown  over  her  guns  when  chased  by  the 
Constitution,  rearmed  herself  from  the  prize. 

Ship  Pursuit,  with  600  hhds.  of  sugar,  sent  into  Phil- 
adelphia by  the  Atlas  of  that  port. 

Ship  Evergreen,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Dolphin. 

Brig  New  Liverpool,  four  guns,  from  Minorca,  for 
Quebec,  with  a  full  cargo,  of  wine,  sent  into  New  York 
by  the  Yankee.  , 

Ship  Mary  Ann,  from  Jamaica,  for  London,  a  very 
valuable  vessel,  carrying  twelve  guns  and  eighteen  men, 
deeply  laden  with  sugar,  etc.,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Highflyer,  of  Baltimore. 

Sent  into  Baltimore  the  first-class  British  ship  Henry, 
400  tons  burthen,  coppered  to  the  bends,  mounting  four 
twelve-pounders  and  six  six-pounders,  bound  from  St. 
Croix  for  London.  She  was  captured  by  the  privateer 
Comet,  Captain  Boyle,  of  Baltimore.  The  Henry's  car- 
go consisted  of  700   hogsheads  of  sugar,    and  thirteen 

6 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


1812. 


pipes  of  old  Madeira  wiiio  ;  this  vessel  and  cargo  pro- 
duced a  clear  profit  to  the  captors  of  more  than 
$100,000. 

Also  arrived,  the  English  schooner  Alfred,  sent  in 
by  the  privateer  Spencer,  of  Philadelphia,  from  Ber- 
muda for  New  Providence,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of 
brandies,  rum,  and  claret  wine. 

The  Teazer  privateer,  of  New  York,  captured  an 
English  Brig  from  Gibraltar,  in  ballast,  and  sent  her 
into  an  Eastern  port. 

The  English  brig  Resolution  arrived  at  Portland,  a 
prize  to  the  privateer  Nancy,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Neiv  York,  August  ith. — The  brig  Nerina,  Stewart, 
from  Newry,  for  New  York,  arrived  at  New  London. 

The  Nerina  was  captured  by  a  British  cruiser,  and  all 
the  crew,  except  the  Captain,  taken  out,  and  a  British 
prize-master  and  crew  put  on  board  the  brig.  Previous 
to  her  capture,  the  Captain  secreted  all  his  passengers, 
numbering  about  fifty,  in  the  hold.  After  getting  out 
of  sight  of  the  English  man-of-war,  Captain  Stewart  sug- 
gested the  propriety  of  opening  the  hatches  to  air  the 
vessel,  when  all  the  passengers  rushed  on  deck,  and  re- 
took the  brig  without  resistance. 

The  British,  about  this  time,  captured  five  of  our 
small  privateers,  belonging  to  Salem,  and  other  Eastern 
ports. 

A  CARD. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bell,  of  Nova  Scotia,  passenger  on 
board  the  schooner  Ann,  Kelly,  master,  frcm  Halifax, 
taken  and  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Privateer  Dolphin, 
l)Ogs  leave  to  acknowledge,  with  much  gratitude,  the 
gentlemanly  and  humane  treatment  of  the  Captain  and 


'V 


1812.] 


THE   AMERICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


67 


Prize-master  of  the  Dolphin,  in  returning  her  $900,  to- 
gether with  all  her  personal  effects,  etc. 

On  the  Isi  December,  the  privateer-schooner  Jack's 
Favorite,  Captain  Miller,  of  New  York,  was  lying  at  the 
island  of  St.  Bart's,  where  he  had  put  in  for  water  and 
refreshments.  A  few  days  after  his  arrival,  his  Majesty's 
schooner  Subtle  came  into  the  same  port,  and  while 
there  threatened,  in  the  presence  of  the  merchants  and 
others,  "that  he  would  follow,  and  take  the  damned 
Yankee  privateer,  if  he  went  to  hell  for  her."  When 
Captain  Miller  was  ready,  he  sailed  out  of  the  harbor, 
on  a  cruise  among  the  islands  ;  the  Englishman  soon  fol- 
lowed to  put  his  threat  into  execution.  Immediately 
after  leaving  port,  the  privateer  not  wishing  to  engage 
a  man-of-war,  made  sail  to  avoid  his  enemy  ;  soon  after 
the  chase  commenced  a  terrible  squall  arose,  and  raged 
witJi  fury  for  a  considerable  time,  both  vessels,  of  course, 
carrying  all  the  sail  they  could  possibly  bear  during  the 
continuance  of  the  terrific  gust.  It  soon,  however,  ex- 
pended itself,  and  when  it  cleared  away,  behold  there 
was  nothing  to  be  seen  of  the  Subtle.  She  having  so 
suddenly  disappeared.  Captain  Miller,  moved  by  motives 
of  humanity,  tacked  ship  and  sailed  over  the  same 
ground  from  which  his  adversary  had  so  recently  dis- 
appeared, and  all  that  was  left  of  the  gallant  Subtle 
were  a  few  hats,  caps,  and  hammock-cloths  floating  on 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  writer  of  this  article  was 
personally  acquainted  with  Captain  Miller,  and  two  of 
his  crew.  These  two  individuals  were  young  men  of 
respectability,  belonging  to  Milford,  Connecticut,  and 
have  related  to  me  all  the  circumstances  here  narrated, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  their  statement  is  true,  to  the 
spirit  and  the  letter. 


68 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig ,  ten  guns,  with  a  very  valuable  cargo  of 

dry-goods,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  privateers  "  United 
we  Stand,"  and  "  Divided  we  Fall." 

Transport  ship  Lord  Keith,  four  guns,  from  Lisbon  for 
England,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  Mars. 

Transport  ship  Canada,  twelve  guns,  one  hundred  sol- 
diers, and  forty-two  horses,  captured  by  the  Paul  Jones, 
and  ransomed  for  £3,000  sterling,  after  disarming  the 
men. 

Brig  John  and  Isabella,  of  Berwick-on-Tweed,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  and  given  up  to  discharge  her  pris- 
oners. 

The  large  ship  Neptune,  of  090  tons,  sent  into  New 
Orleans  by  the  Saratoga.  This  is  probably  one  of  the 
most  valuable  ships  taken  during  the  war. 

Brig ,  of  twelve  guns,  with  an  assorted  cargo, 

from  St.  Michaels,  sent  into  New  London  by  the  Dolphin, 
of  Salem. 

Schooner ,  worth  $10,000,  sent  into  New  Orleans 

by  the  Lovely  Lass,  of  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Brig ,  sent  into  Chatham  by  the  Paul  Jones. 

Ship  Mentor,  of  London,  twelve  guns,  with  a  cargo  in- 
voiced at  £60,000  sterling,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the 
Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston. 

Schooner  Huzzar,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Liberty, 
of  Baltimore,  laden  with  turtle,  etc.,  supposed  as  pres- 
ents for  Admiral  Warren  and  his  officers. 

Brig  Antrim,  from  Ireland,  with  dry-goods,  etc.,  val- 
ued at  $60,000,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the  Saucy 
Jack. 

Schooner ,  100  tons,  laden  with  beeswax  and  red 

wood,  arrived  at  Tarpaulin  Cove,  a  prize  to  the  Yankee. 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


C9 


GALLANT  EXPLOITS. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Le  Chantier,  of  the 
Privateer  Hazard  to  a  Gentleman  in  Charleston,  from  St, 
Mart/s,  Georgia, — **  I  have  just  arrived  here  with  my 
prize,  the  ship  Albion,  which  I  captured  on  the  Ist  of 
February,  longitude  G4°  West,  latitude  16"  North.  On 
the  23d  of  February,  being  on  Savannah  bar,  having  lost 
sight  of  her  in  a  fog,  she  was  retaken  by  a  privateer 
from  New  Providence,  mounting  eight  pieces  of  cannon, 
after  which  we  fell  in  with  her  again,  the  privateer  in 
company,  which  we  engaged,  and  after  an  action  of 
seven  hours  and  a-half,  the  privateer  struck,  and  we  re- 
took the  ship.  If  we  had  had  half  an  hour  more  of  day- 
light, I  should  have  brought  in  the  privateer  ;  but  fear- 
ing to  lose  my  prize,  I  was  forced  to  abandon  her.  My 
lieutenant  and  carpenter  were  wounded  dangerously,  and 
five  seamen  slightly.  It  is  surprising  we  had  so  few 
wounded,  considering  how  severely  our  vessel  was  crip- 
plod  by  the  grape  shot  of  the  enemy.  Our  force  was 
twenty-eight  fighting  men,  while  that  of  the  enemy,  in- 
cluding both  vessels,  the  prize  and  the  privateer,  was 
twenty  guns  and  sixty  men.  I  hope  the  privateer  Cale- 
donia will  long  remember  the  little  Hazard. 

"  Among  the  naval  exploits  of  the  present  war,  there 
is  none  which  reflects  more  credit  on  American  gallan- 
try than  the  battle  of  the  privateer-brig  Montgomery, 
Captain  Upton,  of  Boston,  with  a  large  British  brig  off 
Surinam,  on  the  6th  of  December.  This  vessel,  along 
side  of  which  the  Montgomery  lay  for  half  an  hour,  was 
no  less  than  his  Majesty's  brig  Surinam,  carrying  eigh- 
teen thirty-two  pound  carronades  and  two  long-nines, 
while  the  Montgomery  had  only  twelve  guns,  ten  sixes 
and  two  eighteen-pound  carronades.    Notwithstanding 


70 


THE    AMEUICAN     TRIVATEEKS. 


[1812. 


this  disparity  of  force,  tlio  Surinuin  had  received  such 
shocks  tliat  slio  was  evidently  glad  to  getod",  and  instead 
of  going  direct  to  the  common  rendezvous  at  Barbadocs, 
she  first  put  into  an  out-port  to  refit,  liaving  liad  lier 
foremast  badly  wounded.  What  further  damage  she 
sustained  we  have  not  heard." 

"  Britannia  nocda  no  bulwark, 
No  towers  along  the  Htecp  ; 
Her  inarch  is  o'er  tho  mountain  waves, 
Her  homo  ia  on  the  deep." 

GATJ.ANT  ACTION  FOUGFIT  HETWKEN  THE  rUIVATEEU-SCHOONEIl 
SARATOGA,  CHARLES  W.  WOOSTEll,  COMMANDER,  AND  THE  RRIT- 
ISH  LKrJ'ER-OF-MARQUE  BRIO  RACHEL,  OFF  LAGUIILA,  ON  THE  ISin 
OF  DECEMBER,  1812. 

On  the  dth  December,  the  private  nrmed  schooner 
Saratoga,  commanded  by  Charles  W.  Wooster,  made 
her  appearance  off  this  place,  (Laguira.)  The  same  day 
the  first  Lieutenant  came  on  shore.  He  said  they  were 
twenty-four  days  from  New  York,  and  had  seen  nothing. 
On  the  10th,  Captain  Wooster  ran  down  and  anchored 
in  the  roads,  but  in  a  few  minutes  was  advised  in  a  note, 
from  the  American  consul,  to  weigh  and  keep  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  batteries,  as  the  commandant  had  said  he 
would  sink  her  if  she  came  to.  He  immediately  com- 
plied with  this  advice,  and  stood  off.  He  soon  discov- 
ered a  schooner  standing  down  the  coast,  some  miles  to 
windward  of  Laguira.  He  boarded  and  captured  her. 
She  was  a  schooner,  with  dry-goods  on  board  to  the 
amount  of  $20,000. 

The  next  day,  at  nine  a.m.,  after  the  fog  cleared  off, 
we  saw  the  Saratoga  some  miles  to  leeward,  in-shore  of 
a  brig,  but  neither  near  enough  to  fetch  in.  At  eleven 
a.m.,  the  brig  tacked  off  shore,  and  soon  after,  the 
schooner  did  the  same.     It  was  known  on  shore  the 


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1812.J 


Tin:     AMKltH'AN     I'UIVATKKUS. 


71 


l)rig  was  well  armed  and  inannod,  and  it  was  gonorally 
boliuvod  hIic  would  tako  the  Saratoga,  or  at  all  events 
beat  her  olF.  All  the  inhabitants,  from  the  (Command- 
ant to  the  beggar,  left  their  businews  to  .see  the  engage- 
ment. 

The  brig  being  so  far  from  the  sehooner,  it  was  some 
time  before  she  eame  uj)  with  her.  Both  vessels  were 
so  far  oir,  wo  could  but  just  discern  them  from  the  house- 
tops, and  just  as  we  had  given  up  all  hopes  of  seeing 
the  battle,  wo  discovered  they  both  tacked  in-shore 
iigain.  They  continued  standing  in  until  within  two 
leagues  of  the  town,  when  the  Saratoga  commenced  the 
action  from  her  starboard  bow-guns,  which  was  returned 
from  the  brig's  larboard  quarter.  The  action  now  be- 
came furious,  so  that  both  vessels  were  hid  from  us  in 
columns  of  firo  and  smoke.  In  a  few  minutes,  however, 
the  firing  ceased. 

When  the  smoko  cleared  oIT,  wo  could  soo  no  colors 
Hying  except  the  American  on  board  the  Saratoga, 
which  wa3  victorious.     (May  it  always  remain  so.) 

On  the  13th  the  second  mate  and  twenty-five  seamen 
arrived  at  Laguira  in  the  brig's  long-boat,  which  Captain 
"Wooster  had  given  them,  together  with  every  article 
belonging  to  them.  The  second  mate  was  the  only  offi- 
cer that  was  alive  after  the  action,  there  being  great 
slaughter  on  board  the  brig.  On  board  the  Saratoga 
they  had  but  one  man  slightly  wounded.  The  brig  was 
the  Rachel,  from  Greenock,  mounting  twelve  long-nine- 
pounders,  and  carrying  sixty  men.  She  had  on  board  a 
cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  invoiced  at  £15,000,  sterling. 


1812.J 


CHAPTER   III. 

BATTLK  BETWEEN  THE  TTNITED  STATK"!  FRIOATE  UNITED  STATES  AND  TDE  BRITISH  FRIQATK 
MACEDONIAN — RE'l.ilKS  ON  ADMIRAL  "»UREN'H  BLOCKADINa  THE  AMERICAN  PORTS — 
BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  CAITURED  HY  THECOMKT — A  VALUABLE  BRITISH  SHIP  SENT  INTO  POUT- 
UmO  BY  THE  DECATUR — EXTRACT  KUOi  THE  LOO-HOOK  OK  THE  ATLAS,  CAITAIN  MAK- 
FET,  AND  HIS  ACCOUNT  OK  AN  ACTION  WITH  TWO  BRITISH  SHIPS,  WHICH  HE  CAPTURES 
— BETWEEN  APRIL  AND  AUGUST,  1812,  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-SIX  AMERICAN  MER 
CHANT  VESSELS  ARRIVE  AT  NEW  YORK — ON  THE  IBtU  OK  JUNK,  THE  COMMON  COUNCIL 
OF  THF  CITY  OK  NEW  YORK   PRF-SKNT  CAPTAIN  ISAAC  HULL  WITH  THE  FREEDOM  OF  THEIR 

crrr  in  a  gold  box — commodore  barney  returns  to  Baltimore,  on  the  10th  of 

NOVEMBER,  FROM  A  SECOND  HUCCKSSKUI,  CRUISE— EXTRACT  FROM  HIS  LOQ-BOOK  ON 
THAT  CRUISE^A  GALLANT,  BUT  UNSUCCfiSSFUL  CONFLICT  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATtJCR 
NONSUCH  AND  AN  ENGLISH  SHIP,  OFF  MARTINIQUE — A  MEMORIAL  FROM  THE  MERCHANTS 
OF  NEW  YORK  TO  THE  CONGRIHS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES— BRITISH  SHIP  JOHN  HAMILTON 
SENT  INTO  BALTIMORE  BY  TUB  DOLPHIN  PRIVATIIKR — A  BRITISH  SHIP  OF  22  GUNS 
DRIVEN  ON  SHORE  NIU^R  DEMARARA,  BY  THE  GENERAL  ARMSTRONG — BRITISH  SHIP  QUEEN, 
16  GUNS  AND  40  MEN,  CAITURED  BY  THE   CENEBAL    ARMSTRONG,  ETC. 

NAVAL  BATTLE  BFfWEEN  THE   FRIGATE  UNITED  STATOS   AND  THE 

MACEDONIAN. 

On  the  26th  October,  in  latitude  29^  North,  longitude 
29°  30''  West,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Western  Is- 
lands. Commodore  Decatur  was  cruising  alone  to  inter- 
cept the  enemy,  and  no  doubt  wishing  to  meet  a  single 
ship  of  equal  or  somewhat  superior  force,  it  was  his 
good  fortune  to  make  a  large  sail  to  windward.  It  was 
then  blowing  a  strong  breeze,  with  a  high  sea  on,  and 
as  the  sail  was  dead  to  windward,  the  Frigate  United 
States  was  brought  to  the  wind,  in  order  to  near,  and 
ascertain  the  character  of  the  ship  in  sight. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  stranger  was  a  frigate, 
and  no  doubt  an  enemy,  who  being  to  windward,  had 
of  course,  his  choice  of  distance  and  time  for  commenc- 
ing the  conflict.  As  the  stranger  did  rot  choose  to  ap- 
(72) 


proach 

tur  wa 

enemy 

AtL 

broads; 

most  o: 

fire,  ke 

near  e 

Althouj 

with  hi] 

with  th 

an  hour 

the  An: 

tagonist 

injury, 

English 

sails. 

As  a  ] 
drifted 
Tlic}^  naj 
frigate 
position, 
enemy. 

The  ir 
viously  s 
it  the  foi 
hannjinjr 
colors  fl 
upon. 

In  this 
and  any 
sacrifice 
ceased  or 
When 


1812.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


73 


proach  within  good  fighting  distance,  Commodore  Deca- 
tur was  obHged  to  hug  the  wind,  in  order  to  bring  the 
enemy  within  the  range  of  his  guns. 

At  length,  drawing  up  under  his  lee,  he  ordered  a 
l>roadside  to  be  given  to  the  foe,  but  observing  that 
most  of  the  shot  fell  Jiort  of  the  enemy,  he  reserved  his 
fire,  keeping  his  luff  so  that  he  was  soon  enabled  to  get 
near  enough  to  have  his  main-deck  guns  take  efTect. 
Although  at  too  great  a  distance  to  reach  his  opponent 
with  his  carronades  and  musketry,  a  heavy  cannonade 
with  their  long-guns  was  kept  up  for  the  space  of  half 
an  hour,  by  both  parties.  It  was  then  apparent  that 
the  American  frigate  was  hulling  and  cutting  her  an- 
tagonist to  pieces,  while  she  herself  received  but  little 
injury,  as  the  greatest  portion  of  the  shot  from  the 
English  ship  passed  over  her,  and  through  her  upper 
sails. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  English  frigate  gradually 
drifted  to  leeward,  while  the  American  kept  her  luflf. 
They  naturally  neared  each  other,  and  as  the  American 
frigate  had  ranged  far  enough  ahead  to  gain  a  favorable 
position,  she  tacked  and  passed  under  the  lee  of  the 
enemy. 

The  mizzen-mast  of  the  English  ship  having  been  pre- 
viously shot,  at  this  moment  fell  overboard,  taking  with 
it  the  fore  and  main  top-masts,  while  the  main-yard  was 
hanging  in  the  slings  in  two  pieces.  There  were  no 
colors  flying,  for  there  was  nothing  left  to  set  them 
upon. 

In  this  situation,  the  disabled  ship  could  do  no  more, 
and  any  further  resistance  would  have  been  a  ugeless 
sacrifice  of  human  life.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  firing 
ceased  on  both  sides. 

When  the  United  States  came  up  under  the  lee  of 


74 


THE    AMKUICAN    I'lUVATEERS 


[1815 


the  disabled  ship,  demanding  her  name,  and  whether  she 
had  surrendered,  her  answer  was  that  it  was  the  Mace- 
donian frigate,  of  thirty-eight  guns,  Captain  Garden,  and 
that  she  had  struck. 

On  taking  possession  of  the  Macedonian,  she  was 
found  i  right  fully  cut  to  pieces,  having  received  about 
one  hundred  round  shot  hi  her  hull.  Her  rigging  and 
sails  were  rent  in  tatters.  Of  a  crew  of  three  hundred 
men,  thii-ty-six  were  killed  and  sixty-eight  wounded, 
numbering  together  one  hundred  and  four  put  hors  de 
combat ;  a  fearful  destruction  of  human  life  in  the  short 
space  of  an  hour  and  a  half. 

The  Macedonian  was  a  fine  ship  of  her  class ;  rated 
thirty-eight,  but  carrying  forty-nine  guns :  eighteens  on 
her  gun-deck,  and  thirty-two  pound  carronades  on  her 
spar-deck.  She  was  only  four  years  old,  and  had  not 
been  long  at  sea. 

It  is  but  fair  to  acknowledge  that  the  United  States 
was  a  larger  ship  than  her  opponent.  She  also  carried 
five  more  guns,  and  heavier  metal,  with  a  larger  number 
of  men  ;  still  it  is  surprising  how  little  she  suffered  in 
comparison  with  her  adversary ;  she  having  had  but  five 
men  killed,  and  seven  wounded. 

Among  the  killed  was  the  Third  Lieutenant,  Mr.  John 
M.  Funk,  a  promising  young  officer.  No  other  officer 
was  hurt  in  the  combat. 

The  rigging  and  sails  of  the  American  frigate  were 
somewhat  injured,  but  not  so  much  as  to  prevent  her 
from  continuing  her  cruise,  had  it  not  been  deemed  ad- 
visable for  her  to  convoy  her  prize  into  port. 

Mr.  Allen,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  United  States, 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  prize.  They  rig- 
ged a  jury  mizzen-mast,  repaired  the  sails  and  rigging,  and 
soon  the  English  frigate  was  transformed  into  an  Ameri- 


1812.J 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEEliS. 


75 


can  barque,  and  proceeded  on  her  passage  to  "  the  land 
of  tlie  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE. 

I  am  aware  that  it  is  much  easier  to  criticize  than  to 
fight,  still,  as  a  seaman,  I  think  Captain  Garden  made  a 
mistake  in  keeping  at  so  great  a  distance,  and,  as 
it  were,  lying  like  a  target  to  be  cut  to  pieces. 

Had  he  bore  down  close  to  his  enemy,  he  could  at 
least  have  done  him  a  great  deal  of  damage,  and  no  one 
knows  but  some  lucky  shot  might  have  disabled  his  op- 
ponent in  her  rudder  or  some  other  vital  part. 

As  he  was  to  windward  during  the  whole  fight,  he  had 
the  advantage  of  choosing  his  own  distarce,  and  could 
but  have  been  beaten  at  last. 

I  am  happy  to  add,  however,  that  it  is  agreed  on  all 
hands,  both  by  friends  and  foes,  that  Captain  Garden  was 
a  brave,  humane,  honorable  man,  with  the  polished  man- 
ners of  gentleman. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  was  in  N^ew  York  at  the 
time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Macedonian  at  the  Navy  Yard  in 
Brooklyn,  and  immediately  repaired  on  board  the  cap- 
tured ship. 

She  was,  of  course,  somewhat  battered  in  her  hull  and 
spars,  but  still  a  fine  fast-sailing  frigate,  and  was  soon 
repaired  and  fitted  to  cruise  under  the  stars  and  stripes, 
against  those  who  had  until  this  war  been  in  the  habit 
of  treating  our  flag  with  contempt  and  derision.  I  will 
here  observe  that  every  American  was  rejoiced  at  the 
capture  of  another  British  frigate  ;  still  there  was  no  dis- 
position to  triumph  over  an  unfortunate  foe.  Captain 
Garden  had  never  been  bullying  and  blustering  on  our 
coast,  and  carrying  fire  and  destruction  in  his  path 
against  defenceless  plantations  and  fishing  towns,  hke  the 


iMtiKKmuif^^*^^^^-^-^^'^^^'- 


7G 


THE    AMERICAN    rUlVATEERS. 


[1812. 


H 


notorious  Cockbiu-n,  and  several  other  ruffians  of  the 
same  stamp  of  diaractcr.  On  the  contrary,  Captain 
Garden  was  looked  upon  as  a  gentleman,  and  every 
honorable  man  felt  a  sympathy  for  his  misfortunes.  It 
may  appear  somewhat  surprising  to  the  present  genera- 
tion to  learn  how  soon  the  public  and  private  character 
of  nearly  all  the  Briti.sh  officers  that  commanded  on  our 
coast  at  that  period  was  known  to  the  public  at  large. 
Some  of  them  were  respected  and  esteemed  even  by  their 
enemies,  for  their  kind  and  humane  acts  of  generosity, 
while  others  were  despised  and  hated  for  their  coarse 
brutality.  As  the  most  of  those  who  figured  in  the  war 
against  us  have  gone  to  their  rest,  I  deem  it  unwise  to 
name  any  more  of  them,  as  it  can  do  no  good,  and  may 
perhaps  injure  the  feelings  of  their  children  and  grand- 
children. 

Notwithstanding  the  reiterated  proclamations  by  Ad- 
miral Warren  (Commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's 
naval  forces  on  the  coast  of  North  America),  declaring 
the  greatest  part  of  our  sea  coast  under  a  strict  and  rigid 
blockade  ;  and  though  numerous  line-of- battle  ships  and 
frigates  were  stationed  at  the  entrance  of  our  principal 
ports,  striving  to  intercept  and  annihilate  our  trade  and 
commerce  ;  still,  with  all  their  force  and  vigilance,  they 
could  not  prevent  our  privateers  and  letters- of-mar que 
from  entering  and  leaving  our  ports  almost  daily. 

If  the  enemy's  ships  were  to  leeward,  and  a  strong 
breeze  blowing,  our  privateers  and  private  armed  vessels 
would  slip  out  in  spite  of  them,  even  at  mid-day. 

If  such  an  opportunity  did  not  offer,  they  had  only 
to  wait  for  darkness,  or  thick,  stormy  weather,  and  thus, 
while  the  enemy  was  waiting  to  catch  our  mischievous 
privateers  near  our  own  ports,  they  were  annoying  and 
capturing  British  ships  and  vessels  in  almost  every  part 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PIUVATEERS. 


77 


of  the  world  ;  in  defiance  of  their  eight  hundred  ships  of 
war. 

Before  hostihties  commenced,  their  oft-repeated  boast 
was,  that  in  six  months  after  war  should  exist  between 
the  two  nations,  not  a  single  American  flag  would  bo 
seen  on  the  ocean.  And  such  was  their  inflated  vanity, 
that  they  counted  on  very  little  resistance,  either  from 
our  navy  or  private  armed  vessels.  Wluit  then  must 
luive  been  their  disappointment  when  single  ships  met  ? 
and  when,  with  their  immerous  ships  of  war,  and  cruis- 
ing vessels,  they  were  unable  to  keep  a  handful  of  frigatcs» 
in  combination  with  our  privateers  and  private  armed 
vessels,  from  perpetually  harassing  their  shipping,  even 
at  the  mouths  of  their  own  ports  in  the  British  and  Irish 
channels.  No  one  acquainted  with  the  English  character 
can  justly  accuse  them  of  timidity,  or  want  of  courage. 
On  the  contrary,  they  are  a  daring,  brave  peoi)le,  but 
sadly  deficient  in  good  maimers,  and  civility  in  their  in- 
tercourse with  other  nations.  This  is  certainly  a  grave 
charge,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Ship  Marianna,  from  St.  Croix  for  London,  six  hun- 
dred tons,  laden  with  sugars,  etc.,  found  deserted  at  sea, 
by  the  Governor  McKean,  of  Philadelphia,  and  towed 
into  Norfolk. 

Brig ,  laden  with  salt,  sent  into  Portland  by  the 

Teazer  privateer. 

Brig ,  captured  by  a  whale-boat  privateer,  and 

brought  into  Portland.  After  the  capture,  the  boat 
was  hoisted  on  the  deck  of  the  prize,  and  carried  into 
port.  • 

Brig  Isabella,  two  hundred  and  five  tons,  one  year  old, 


78 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


^Sfi 


laden  with  crockery  ware,  iron,  etc.,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  Teazer. 

Ship ,  laden  with  timber,  bound  for  England, 

sent  into  Marblchead  by  the  Decatur  privateer. 

Brig  Diana  from  London,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Dart. 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  Dolphin  of  Baltimore, 
and  burned. 

Ship  John,  fourteen  guns,  thirty-five  men,  four  hun- 
dred tons  burthen,  from  Demarara  for  Liverpool,  laden 
with  742  bales  of  cotton,  230  hogsheads  of  sugar,  100 
puncheons  of  rum,  50  casks  and  300  bags  of  coffee,  with 
a  large  quantity  of  old  copper  and  dye-wood,  worth  at 
least  $150,000,  sent  into  Baltimore  by  the  Comet,  of 
that  port. 

Ship  Commerce,  fourteen  guns,  long-nines, men, 

from  four  hundred  to  five  hundred  tons  burthen,  from 
Demarara  for  London,  very  richly  laden  with  sugar,  rum, 
cotton,  coffee — a  very  valuable  prize — sent  into  Port- 
land by  the  Decatur,  of  Newburyport.  The  captain  and 
several  of  the  crew  were  killed  by  the  first  broadside 
from  the  privateer. 

Privateer-schooner  Frances,  of  Nassau,  N.  P.,  four 
guns  and  thirty  men,  a  fine,  fast-saihng  vessel,  sent  into 
Baltimore  by  the  Dolphin. 

A  small  English  privateer,  taken  by  the  Rapid,  of 
Charleston,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Tor  Abbey,  laden  with  dry  fish,  sent  into  Cape 
Ann  by  the  Thrasher,  privateer.     A  valuable  vessel. 

Schooner  ,  laden  with  sugar,  flour,  etc.,  an  as- 
sorted cargo,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer,  pri- 
vateer. 

Brig  ,  from  Madeira  for  London,  laden  with 

choice  wine,  sent  into  Newburyport  by  the  Marengo,  of 
New  York. 


li 


312. 

md 

Id, 

irt. 
re, 

m- 
en 
00 
ith 
at 
of 

sn, 
►m 

01, 

:t- 
id 
ie 

ir 
to 

)f 

)e 


1- 


1812.] 


tn 


X 

I/) 


X 
CO 


OD 
o 

a 

-«    j 

'^    \'. 
<    »; 


CC  0 

UJ  ; 

O  t 

o  -,- 

X  ^ 

a  <■ 

00 


h- 


m 


Brig  I 
timber,  f 

EXTRACT  . 

Angus 

West,  at 

ward,  sta 

ward  ;  at 

AM.  beat 

At  half 

the  Amei 

past  ten  t 

at  this  tin 

At  elev 

and  musk 

ing  both 

small  ship 

whole  of  c 

most  surpi 

although  1 

menced  fir: 

man  off  he 

the  large  si 

of  them  boi 

Chivers,  of 

nine  pound 

the  other,  t 

280  tons,  tv 

both  with  ■ 

cocoa,  thirtj 

W"o  took  01 

crew  on  boa 

ward  in  con 


*m.- 


1812.] 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


79 


Brig  Orient,   from  Quebec  for  England,  laden  with 
timber,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  Teazer,  privateer. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OP  THE  SCHOONER  ATLAS,  CAPTAIN 

DAVID  MAFFET. 

August  Sd,  in  latitude  37°  30',  North,  longitude  46° 
West,  at  half-past  eight  a.m.,  made  two  sail  to  the  west- 
ward, standing  to  the  Northeast ;  tacked  to  the  south- 
ward ;  at  half-past  nine  tacked  to  the  northward  ;  at  ten 
AM-  beat  to  quarters  and  cleared  for  action. 

At  half-past  ten,  bore  away  for  l)oth  ships,  and  hoisted 
the  American  ensign  and  pendant ;  at  three-quarters 
past  ten  the  smallest  ship  fired  a  shot  at  us,  both  ships 
at  this  time  having  English  colors  flying. 

At  eleven  a.m.,  the  action  commenced  by  a  broadside 
and  musketry  from  the  Atlas,  which  continued  (engag- 
ing both  ships  at  the  same  time)  until  noon,  when  the 
small  ship  struck  her  colors.  We  then  directed  the 
whole  of  our  fire  against  the  large  ship,  but  to  our  ut- 
most surprise,  the  small  ship  again  opened  her  fire  on  us, 
although  her  colors  were  still  down.  We  again  com- 
menced firing  on  her,  and  in  a  few  minutes  drove  every 
man  ofif  her  decks.  At  twenty  minutes  past  meridian 
the  large  ship  struck,  and  we  immediately  took  possession 
of  them  both  ;  one  proved  to  be  the  ship  Pursuit,  Captain 
Chivers,  of  London,  of  450  tons,  sixteen  guns,  eight  and 
nine  pounders,  with  a  complement  of  thirty-five  men  ; 
the  other,  the  ship  Planter,  Captain  Frith,  of  Bristol,  of 
280  tons,  twelve  guns,  twelve  pounders,  and  fifteen  men  ; 
both  with  valuable  cargoes  of  sugar,  coffee,  cotton  and 
cocoa,  thirty  days  out  from  Surinam,  bound  to  London. 
We  took  out  the  prisoners,  put  a  prize-master,  mate  and 
crew  on  board  of  each  of  them,  and  steered  to  the  south- 
ward in  company.     During  the  action  we  had  two  men 


80 


THE   AMKUICAN    I'UIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


killed  and  five  wounded.  Every  one  of  the  BhroudH  on 
the  larboard  side  were  shot  away,  some  of  them  in  two 
or  three  places  ;  the  running  rigging  and  sails  very  nnidi 
cut.  In  consequence  of  the  disabled  condition  of  our 
rigging,  and  the  fore-yard  being  gone,  Captain  Malfct 
determined  on  convoying  the  prizes  to  the  first  port  in 
the  United  States  to  refit ;  kept  in  comi)any  with  tlie 
prizes  until  Wednesday,  the  2d  of  September,  when  at 
half-past  four  A.M.,  we  made  a  large  ship  to  the  eastward, 
standing  to  the  southward  ;  at  half-past  five  she  tacked, 
and  gave  chase  for  us-  We  bore  down,  and  spoke  tlio 
Pursuit,  and  ordered  the  prize-master  to  tack  to  the 
southward,  and  make  the  first  port  he  could.  At  six 
spoke  the  Planter,  and  informed  him  that  the  ship  in 
chase  was  probably  an  enemy,  and  ordered  him  to  make 
sail  to  the  northward.  At  ten  the  Pursuit  was  out  of 
sight  to  the  southward.  At  eleven  backed  the  main  top- 
sail, the  strange  sail  coming  up  fast  with  the  Planter. 
At  meridian  tacked  to  the  southward.  At  half-past  one 
P.M.,  the  frigate  fired  five  guns  at  the  Planter,  which 
obliged  her  to  bring-to.  Supposing  her  to  be  a  British 
frigate,  as  she  kept  English  colors  flying,  we  made  sail  to 
the  westward.  At  half-past  three  p.m.,  the  frigate  and 
the  prize,  Planter  still  in  sight,  lying-to,  the  Planter  with 
American  colors  flying  at  the  mizzen  peak. 

The  frigate  alluded  to  in  this  report  must  have  been 
an  American,  as  I  find  it  subsequently  stated  that 
both  these  prizes  had  arrived  at  a  port  in  the  United 
States. 


Although  the  English  about  this  period,  September, 
1812,  captured  several  of  our  small  privateers,  I  observe, 
by  a  New  York  paper,  that  their  places  were  soon  filled 
by  a  larger  and  better  class,  which  were  then  fitting  for 


1812.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


ai 


sou,  namoly,  Caplain  Hulkcly,  an  oM  revolutionary 
cniiHcr,  cquippod  a  ))riva(o('r,  to  carry  twonty  guns, 
at  Xew  fjondon,  ConiuM.'ticul.  There  wore  also  at  New 
Voik,  getting  ready  I'or  a  cruise,  Hhi[)  Volunleei',  of 
l\vcnly-t\vo  guns  ;  Chinese,  eighteen  guns  ;  the  schooner 
Isaac  Hull,  seventeen  guns  ;  and  the  schooner  Swallow, 
of  six  guns. 

The  James  Madison,  privateer,  had  been  recently  cap- 
lured  by  the  English  frigate  Jusou. 


I'lUZEH  CAl'TnUKD  ]\Y  rRIVA'I'El-niS. 

The  privateer  Paid  Jones,  was  said  to  liave  captured 
lately,  some  twelve  or  (irteen  IJritish  vessels  near  the 
Island  of  Poi'to  Rico,  sonic  of  them  of  considerable 
value. 

It  is  also  stated  in  a  New  York  ne^'spapcr  of  this 
(late,  that  from  the  Gtli  of  Api'il  to  the  22d  of  August, 
2()G  merchant  vessels  had  arrived  safe  into  that  port, 
viz.,  142  ships,  84  brigs,  and  40  schooners.  Fortunately, 
those  vessels  have  escaped  from  the  fangs  of  the  enemy, 
^viiile  their  ow'n  merchantmen  are  bleeding  at  every 
pore. 

The  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the 
IStli  of  June,  presented  to  Captain  Isaac  Hidl,  the  free- 
dom of  their  city  in  a  gold  box. 

Boston,  October  ISth. —  "Privateer-schooner  Fame, 
Captain  Green,  from  a  cruise  of  fifteen  days,  returned 
(111  Saturday  evening  last,  has  taken  two  schooners,  one 
loiulod  with  salmon,  oil,  etc.,  (considered  valuable),  the 
other  a  new  vessel,  ballasted  with  sugar  ;  parted  with 
tlioni  to  the  westward  of  Halifax.  It  is  worthy  of  rc> 
mark,  tlint  the  Fame  was  priv^ateering  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war." 

G 


82 


Tlir    AMERICAN    I'lM VATKKUS. 


[1812. 


Scliooiicr  Jenny,  hidcn  with  ;;mn,  Hiigur,  etc.,  sent 
into  J'oitliind  l)y  tin*  Tcuzcr. 

Scliooncr  Adcln,  from  Martiniciuc,  undor  Hpanisli 
(viloi's,  laden  with  .sugars,  .sent  into  N(!W  York  by  the 
Hosaniond,  of  tiiat  port. 

]^"ig  Point-Shares,  from  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick, 
for  Hiirbadoes,  eaptured  by  the  letter-of-marcpio  .scihooner 
IJahirnore,  of  Baltimore,  on  lier  voyngo  to  Franco,  and 
t^ent  into  port.     Tlie  l)rig  was  laden  witli  fish. 

Brig  vSan  Antonio,  (imder  Spanisli  (dolors)  from  Guern- 
sey, for  Jac(iuem(d,  cii[)tur<.Ml  on  the  eoast  of  Afri(!a  by 
the  Marengo  of  New  York.  This  vessel  was  richly  laden, 
and  sui)i)()S(,'d  to  be  l^ritish  property.  She  ari'ived  at 
Philadeli)hia. 

Schooner  Singl(^-(^»]),  sent  into  the  Mississippi  by  the 
Matilda,  of  Philadeljdiia. 

Schooner  Fame,  from  Trini(bid  for  Cayenne,  ladmi 
with  dry-goods,  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Non- 
such, of  iialtimore. 

Ship  Phoenix,  twelve  guns,  seventeen  men,  from  Ber- 
muda for  Jamaiea,  cargo,  one  hundred  pipes  Fayal  wine  ; 
sent  into  (Charleston  by  the  Mary  Aim,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Favorite,  222  tons,  two  guns,  from  Cork  for 
Pictou,  in  ballast,  sent  into  Lynn  by  the  Industry,  of 
that  port. 

Brig  Sir  John  Mooi'o,  from  Dublin  for  Prince  Ed- 
ward's Island,  177  tons  burthen,  sent  into  Lynn  by  the 
Industry. 

Brig  Lord  Sheffield,  from  Teneriffe  for  Quebec,  burnt 
by  the  ^farengo,  after  taking  out  a  few  small  articles. 

Schooner  Betsey  Ann,  from  the  West  Indies,  laden 
with  sugar,  captured  in  sight  of  Halifax  harbor,  by  the 
Fame,  privateer,  and  sent  into  Salem. 

Brig  Henry,  from  Liverpool   for  Halifax,  laden  with 


I8!!f.] 

orates,  si 
l.y  the  .1 
Schoo 
.Vcwfoin 
teer. 

Sch(»oi 

with  (ish 

ort. 

Two  s( 

teer,  one 

School 

by  the  R 

Schooii 

liiden  wit 

by  tha  W 

Many  . 
have  beei 
of  having 
"ccn  noti 
..1  many 
proper  j)r 
iimount  t( 
the  Yank 
tors  the  ei 
Fat?'  Hi 
privateer 
guns,  was 
on  WcdiK 
built  of  th( 
ion  that  si 
of  this  ves; 
the  launch 
A  spccii 


IRll] 


Tim    AMFniCAN    PRlVATEKRa. 


83 


criil<'s,  salt  aiifl  coal  ;  a  valuablo  vesHol,  Hcnt  into  Salom 
liv  llio  .lohii,  of  that  port. 

SdiooiuM-  Four  nrotliers,  from  (lie  West  Indies  for 
.Vt'wfoimdlanil,  sent  into  Salem  by  tlie  Fame,  priva- 
teer. 

Schooner  Koiir  Son.s,  from  the  IJiiy  of  C^haleur,  hulen 
with  (i.^h  and  furs,  Bcnt  into  Salem  by  tlie  Fame,  of  that 
ort. 

Two  schooners  sent  into  Forthmd  hy  tlie  Dart,  priva- 
teer, one  in  ballast,  the  other  with  live  stoek. 

Schooner  Antelope,  of  Curra(!oa,  sent  into  Charleaton 
1)}'  the  Rosamond.  . 

Schooner  Dawson,  ca[)tured  off  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 
laden  with  sugar,  rum,  and  collec;  sent  into  Savannah 
by  tlie  Wasp  of  Haltimorc. 


Many  American  vessels,  witli  goods  from  England, 
have  been  sent  into  port  by  our  privateers,  on  suspicion 
of  having  Britisli  projjcrty  on  board.  These  have  not 
oen  noticed  in  our  hst,  but  it  appears  l^o  facts  were, 
-■1  many  instances,  as  they  were  suppos  d,  and  when 
proper  proofs  were  furnished,  condemnatio  ^  to  a  great 
iiniount  took  place.  It  is  positively  stated,  tiiat  one  of 
the  Yankee's  i)rizesof  this  description,  afforded  the  cap- 
tors the  enormous  sum  of  $200,000. 

Fair  Harm,  Mass.,  Orfohrr  2'^(1. — "  The  beautiful  now 
privateer  Governor  Gerry,  of  250  tons,  pierced  for  18 
guns,  was  launched  from  the  ship  yard  in  this  village, 
on  Wednesday  last.  She  is  a  most  beautiful  vessel, 
built  of  the  best  materials,  and  good  judges  arc  of  opin- 
ion that  she  will  be  a  remarkably  swift  sailer.  The  keel 
of  this  vessel  was  laid  only  forty-eight  days  previous  to 
the  launch." 

A  specimen  of  English  vanity — 


1 


84 


Tn;.'    A.MKIIICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


"  Tlin  winds  uii'l  sciis  arc  Britain's  wide  domain, 
And  not  a  sail  but  by  permission  spreads." 

British  Naval  Register. 

The  gallant  Commodore  Barney  1ms  recently  returned 
home  to  Baltimore,  in  his  privateer-schooner  Bossie,  on 
the  10th  of  November,  from  a  second  successful  cruise, 
and  had  the  audacity  to  traverse  over  a  pretty  large 
space  of  ocean  water,  without  asking  permission  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty. 

I  herewith  extract  from  the  journal  of  the  brave  Com- 
modore, the  substance  of  his  late  cruise.  It  ijroceeds 
as  follows  : — 

Juli/  12th. — Sailed  from  Baltimore. 

Juli/  15ih. — Left  Cape  Henry. 

Jiilf/  VuJi. — Spoke  ship  Electra,  of  Philadelphia  ;  in- 
formed her  of  the  war. 

July  21s/. — Spoke  brig  Triton,  of  Portsmouth;  inform- 
ed her  of  the  war. 

Spol-'e  sh.p  Rising  Sun,  of  Baltimore;  informed  her  of 
the  war. 

July  Tld. — Seized  the  brig  iS^ymph,  of  Newburypor^ 
for  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  ;  spoke  ship  Re- 
serve, of  Bath  ;  spoke  a  brig  from  Lisbon  for  New  Lon- 
don; informed  her  of  the  war. 

July  236/. — Was  chased  by  a  frigate,  fired  twenty-five 
shots  at  us,  oiit-sailud  her. 

July  30//i. — Chased  by  a  frigate,  out-sailed  her. 
July   \\\ht. — Took,    and   burned   the   ship    Princess 
Royal. 

August  1st. — Took  and  manned  the  ship  Kitty, 

August  2d. — Took  and  burnt  the  following  :  brig  Fame, 
brig  Devonshire,  schooner  Squid ;  and  took  the  brig 
Brothers,  put  on  board  other  sixty  prisoners,  and  sent  her 
to  St.  Johns,  to  be  exchanged  for  as  many  Americans. 


1^12.] 

Augu 
Kchoonei 
manned 
.sclioonei 
St.  J  ohn 
Augr 
tion,  she 
.States  ({ 
Augui 
London, 
rived). 

Augm 
formed  1 
Augus 
lioston . 

Augus 

captured 

Angus 

ford,  for 

Augus 

Franklin 

of  the  w 

Augusi 

London  ; 

Septem 

in  distress 

of  Newp 

Septetn 

did  not 

difficulty. 

Septem 

informed 

Septem 

Saratoga, 


jMuteiuajteift. 


m2.] 


Till']    AMKIMCAN    rUlVATEKUS. 


85 


August  ^d. — Took  i\\\(\  sunk  the  brig  Henry  and 
schooner  llace  Hoise  :  burned  the  schooner  Halifax, 
manned  tlie  brig  William  (arrived),  and  gave  the 
schooner  two  Brothers  forty  prisoners,  and  sent  them  to 
St.  John's  on  parole. 

Augr<t  dih. — Took  the  ship  Je;my,  after  a  short  ac- 
tion, she  mounting  twelve  guns ;  sent  her  to  the  United 
States  (arri\  ed), 

August  lOlh. — Seized  the  brig  Rebecca,  of  Saco,  from 
London,  for  a  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  (ar- 
rived). 

August  lUh. — Spoke  brig  Hazard,  from  Cadiz  ;  in- 
formed her  of  the  war. 

August  17th. — Spoke  brig  Favorite,  from  Cadiz  to 
Boston. 

August  20th. — Spoke  brig  John  Adams,  who  had  been 
captured  and  plundered  by  the  Guerriere,  and  let  go. 

August  28th. — Seized  the  ship  Euphrates,  of  New  Bed- 
ford, for  breach  of  the  non-importation  law  (arrived). 

August  2dth. — Spoke  a  brig,  prize  to  the  Benjamin 
Franklin  ;  spoke  ship  Jewell,  of  Portland  ;  inlbrmed  her 
of  the  war. 

August  30//i. — Spoke  schooner  Ann  and  Mary,  of  New 
London  ;  informed  her  of  the  war. 

September  7th. — Spoke  a  brig  from  Providence,  R.  I., 
in  distress  ;  left  her  under  the  care  of  the  Revenue  Cutter, 
of  Newport. 

Septemher  dth. — Chased  by  three  ships  of  war,  which 
did  not  continue  long,  for  we  outsailed  them  without 
difficulty. 

Septemher  lOth. — Spoke  ship  Joseph,  from  Bonavista ; 
informed  her  of  the  war. 

September  llth. — Spoke  a  brig,  prize  to  the  schooner 
Saratoga,  of  New  York. 


TIIK    AMKUICAN   PRIVATEERS- 


]1812. 


September  12th. — Chased  by  a  frigate  six  hours  ;  oul- 
eailed  her. 

On  the  ICth  September,  Coinuiodorc  Barney,  in  tla 
privateer-schooner  Ilossie,  fell  in  with  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jesty's packet-ship  Princess  Amelia,  when  a  severe  iic- 
tion  commenced  between  the  two  vessels  at  close  quar- 
ters. It  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  and  duiing  the  greatest 
part  of  the  time  within  pistol  shot  distance.  Captain 
Barney's  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Long,  was  severely 
wounded,  six  of  his  crew  were  also  w'ounded  in  the  coii- 
flict,  but  not  severely,  as  the  most  of  them  soon  after 
recovered.  The  Ilossie  suffered  considerably  in  her  rii:- 
ging  and  sails,  but  nothing  in  her  hull. 

The  loss  of  the  Princess  Amelia  was,  her  Captain, 
sailing-master,  and  one  man  killed  ;  the  master's  mute 
and  six  seamen  wounded.  The  packet  was  terribly  cut 
to  pieces  in  her  hull,  sails  and  rigging. 

September  IG/A. — Fell  in  with  three  ships  and  an 
armed  brig ;  exchanged  shot  witli  the  Commodore,  re- 
ceived an  eighteen  pound  shot  through  our  quarter, 
wounded  a  man,  and  lodged  in  our  pump  ;  continued  to 
dog  and  watch  the  above  vessels  four  days  in  hopes  of 
separating  them,  but  in  vain. 

September  23d. — Spoke  the  private-armed  schooner 
Globe,  Captain  Mvu-phy,  of  Baltimore  ;  went  in  pursuit 
of  the  above  English  vessels,  but  could  not  fall  in  with 
them. 

September  26th. — Spoke  a  Spanish  brig  bound  to 
Porto-Rico. 

October  8th. — Took  (in  company  with  the  Clobe)  the 
schooner  Jubilee,  and  sent  her  into  port. 

October  9th. — Spoke  a  Spanish  schooner  from  Palma 
for  Porto-Rico. 
October  10th. — Chased  and  spoke  the  privateer-schooner 


B12. 
lUl- 

11a 
\Ui- 
uc- 
uir- 

k'st 
uin 
•cly 

Oli- 

ftor 

lin, 
ate 
cut 

an 
re- 
ter, 
I  to 

ol" 


1 1 


ner 
5iiit 
dth 

to 

the 

ma 


ner 


1812.J 

Rapid, 

taken  ii 

Octob 

of  the  ] 

of  ship 

217  pris 

Brig  ] 

of  cotto 

Salem  b 

Brig  ( 

sent  int( 

sels  wen 

]?ng  ] 

at  that  J 

Ship  . 

arrived  { 

A  sclii 

Jack,  of 

ers  she  \\ 

Sloop 

captured 

teer,  wit; 

under    tl 

pounders 


Captai 
more,  ha( 
schooner, 
T\e  folio 
book  of  \ 

"The 
Levely,  c 
(at  that  t: 


1812.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PUIV'ATEERS. 


87 


Rapid,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  fifty-two  days  out ;  had 
taken  nothing. 

October  21d, — Seized  the  ship  Merrimack  foi-  a  breach 
of  the  non-importation  act.  The  result  is,  3,G98  tons 
of  shipping,  valued  at  upwards  of  $1,500,000,  and 
217  prisoners. 

Brig  Diamond,  220  tons,  twelve  guns,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  cotton  and  logwood,  and  $2,500  in  gold  ;  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Alfred,  privateer. 

Brig  George,  270  tons,  laden  with  sugar  and  cotton, 
sent  into  the  same  port  by  the  Alfred,  both  of  these  ves- 
sels were  from  Brazil,  and  were  valued  at  $120,000. 

Brig  Neptune,  a  prize  to  the  John,  of  Salem,  arrived 
at  that  port. 

Ship  Jane,  of  Port  Glasgow,  a  prize  to  the  John,  also 
arrived  at  Salem. 

A  schooner  laden  with  timber,  taken  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  given  up  to  release  the  prison- 
ers she  had  taken. 

Sloop  Louisa  Ann,  laden  with  molasses,  seized  and 
captured  by  a  boat  from  the  Benjamin  Franklin  priva- 
teer, with  seven  men,  in  Trinity  Harbor,  Martinique, 
under  the  guns  of  a  battery  of  twelve  eighteen 
pounders. 

A  GALLANT  BUT  UNPROFITABLE  CONFLICT. 

Captain  Levely,  of  the  privateer  Nonsuch,  of  Balti- 
more, had  a  severe  engagement  with  an  English  ship  and 
schooner,  off  Martinique,  on  the  28tli  of  September, 
T'le  following  is  an  extract  of  the  action  from  the  log- 
book of  the  Nonsuch : 

"  The  Nonsuch  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  Captain 
Levely,  carrying  twelve  twelve-pound  carronades,  and 
(at  that  time)  between  eighty  and  ninty  men,  on  the  28th 


88 


Tin:  AMi:i!icA\  i'hivatkkks. 


[1812. 


of  September,  fell  in  with  a  ship  and  schooner  under 
British  colors,  the  sliij)  carrying  sixteen  cightcen-ponnd 
(•arronades  and  two  Innulred  men,  including  soldiers; 
and  the  schooner  six  four-pounders  and  sixty  men. 
When  within  reach  of  the  ship,  she  gave  us  a  broadside. 
We  bore  down  upon  her  and  hoisted  American  colors, 
and  returned  ten  broadsides,  accompanied  each  time 
with  a  heavy  volley  of  musketr}^  the  ship  and  schooner 
keeping  up  a  heavy  lire  upon  us  with  their  great  guns 
and  musketr}'.  The  cngag(}meiit  lasted  three  h.ours  and 
twenty  miiiutcs,  when  the  bolts  and  breachings  of  our 
guns,  fore  and  aft,  were  cari'ied  away  both  sides.  We 
could  then  only  use  our  musketry,  or  we  should  cer- 
tainly have  captured  them  both.  We  dismounted  sev- 
eral of  the  ship's  guns,  and  damngcd  her  very  much  in 
lier  hull  and  rigging.  From  the  confusion  which  appeared 
on  board,  Ave  judge  that  we  must  have  killed  and 
wounded  a  considerable  numl)er  of  men ;  she  bore  away 
for  Martinico ;  we  being  nuudi  crippled  in  our  sails  and 
rigging,  could  not  })ursue  licr.  After  getting  our  decks 
cleared  a  little,  we  hauled  to  the  northward,  not  only  to 
repair  our  sails  and  rigging,  but  to  refit  gun  carriages, 
and  attend  to  the  sick  and  w^ounded. 

"During  the  action,  we  received  several  ''hot  m  our 
hull,  and  some  two  or  three  between  wind  and  water, 
which  caused  the  schooner  to  leak  considerably,  until 
Ave  had  time  to  plug  them  up  and  make  suitable  re- 
pairs. 

"Our  crew  all  fought  like  true  Americans.  Officers 
wounded  :  Mr.  Wilkinson,  dangerously  in  the  body,  since 
dead  ;  Mr.  Williams,  prize-master,  severely  in  the  feet. 
Seamen  killed :  Samuel  Christian,  Lewis  Riley,  David 
McCarthy  ;  we  had  also  six  seamen  Avounded. 

"  Wo  subsequently  learned  that  after  the  action  the 


mcr  Avei 


1612.J 


TUE    AMKIllCAN    I'UIVATliKUri. 


80 


ship  arrived  at  Barbadoos,  and  that  she  had  seven  of 
her  ercw  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  Among  the  I'or- 
mcr  were  some  persons  of  distinction." 

PIIJZES  CAPTUUED  BY  I'lllVATEKIlS. 

Sloop  Venus,  of  Jamaica,  burnt  by  the  Two  Brothers, 
of  Xew  Orleans. 

Brigs  Jane  and  Charlotte,  laden  with  salt,  coals,  crates, 
and  a  few  bales  of  dry-goods,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
America,  privateer. 

]?rig  Francis,  from  St.  John's,  Porto-Rico,  for  Marti- 
nique, laden  with  bullocks,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Xoiisuch,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Porgie,  from  Antigua,  laden  with  rum  and  mo- 
lasses, sent  into  Norfolk  by  the  Highllyer,  on  her  second 
cruise. 

Ship  Ned,  of  Glasgow,  ten  gims,  nine-pounders,  six- 
loon  men,  laden  with  timber,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  John 
and  George  privateer  of  that  place,  after  a  smart  action. 
The  John  and  George  carries  one  twelve  and  two  three- 
pounders.  She  had  on  board  thirty-eight  men,  includ- 
ing officers. 

Schooner ,  captured  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  laden 

with  oil,  seal  skins,  etc.,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  Fame, 
of  that  port. 

The  following  memorial  to  Congress  will  evince  the 
state  of  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  privateering,  at  this 
period  of  the  war. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled. 

The  memorial  of  the  subscribers,  owners  of  and  agents 
for  24  private  armed  vessels,  fitted  out  of  the  port  of 
New  York,  and  other  citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York, 


90 


TiiK  A.Mi;i!i(A.\  riavATi;i:i!S. 


[1H12 


renpcctfully  t<]ie\vel]i  :  That  your  incmoritilisls,  coiivint'cd 
tliat  tliu  i!iU(:L'e.s)srul  i.ssuc  of   tlie    present  war    against 
Groat  ]Ji'i(aiii  lualLM'ially  dcpuiids  upon  tlic  eircctual  aii- 
iioyaiico  of  the  ciunn y,  have,  many  of  them,  eii'^^iiged  in 
the  equipment  of  i)rivate  armed  vessels.     Tlio  extent  to 
wliicli  such  enteri)rises  may  be  carried,  to  the  injury  of 
tlie  foe,  is  incalcuhiblc  ;  for  no  bounds  can  bo  prescrihed 
to  the  hardiliood  and  daring  of  American  seamen.     Tlie 
great  advantages  of  this   clieap  and  efrectual  mode  of 
warfare,  peculiarly  entille  it,  in  the  opinion  of  your  me- 
morialists, to  the  serious  regard  and  fo.stering  care  of 
(\)ngress  ;  tlie  eflect  of  promoting  or  discouraging  it,  will 
befell,  not  only  by  those  immediately  concerned,   but 
throughout  eveiy  department  and  member  of  tlic  war. 
To  the  bold  and  successful  ed'orts  of  our  private  armed 
vessels,  we  may  attribute,  in  a  great  degree,  a  growing 
confidence  in  every   class  of  citizens,  in  our  ability  to 
contend,  at  least  on  equal  terms,  with  the  self-styled  mis- 
tress of  the  ocean.     The   exami)les  of  heroism  in  our 
seamen  of  the  cast,  cannot  fail  to  inspire  with  a  corres- 
ponding ardor  our  soldiers  of  the  north  and  west,  pro- 
ducing a  rivalship  of  patriotism  and  courage,  ensuring  a 
w'ar  of  glory,   terminating  in  an  honorable  and  lasting 
peace. 

The  spirit  with  which  our  maritime  citizens  have  en- 
gaged in  such  adventures,  and  whici'  if  properly  excited 
and  encouraged,  would  prove  so  destructive  to  the 
enemy,  is  in  danger  of  being  extinguished,  unless  Con- 
gress interpose  immediately  and  efiectually  for  its  pre- 
servation. 

For  this  object,  a  diminution  of  the  high  duties  im- 
posed on  prize  goods  is  indispensable.  The  captured 
property,  loaded  with  these  duties,  in  addition  to  the 
charges  attending  its  condemnation  and  sale,  produces, 


1812.] 


TIIH     AMinilCAN     riMVATKKKS. 


91 


even  at  this  early  i)eri()(l,  and  uiidor  the  mo.st  fuvorable 
(•ircumstaiices,  net  prulitH  utterly  iiuule((uato  to  the  risk 
iuid  danger  of  such  cuterprise.M,  and  in  some  instaiicrs  is 
attended  with  an  absolute  loss  to  the  eaptors.  The  cases 
in  whi(;h  j)rofit  is  obtained  nuist  daily  lessen  as  adven- 
tures increase,  until  all  hope  of  advanta<j;e  being  })re- 
cluded,  a  stop  will  elVectually  be  put  to  further  at- 
tempts. 

Your  memorialists  believe,  that  as  a  moans  of  reveruio, 
it  will  eventually  j)rove  its  own  destruction,  for  though 
large  sums  may  at  present  be  obtained  from  it,  by  di- 
minishing the  expectation  of  prolit,  it  will  soon,  not  only 
prevent  the  increase  of  private  armed  vessels,  but  drive 
them  from  the  ocean  as  a  hopeless  speculation  or  certain 
loss.  A  reduction  of  the  duties  by  encouraging  addi- 
tional adventui'crs,  would  soon  more  than  indemnify  the 
treasuiy  for  any  tempoi-aiy  loss  it  might  sustain,  in  the 
increased  number  of  subjects  of  duty  which  it  would 
produce. 

In  addition  to  the  burden  of  the  high  duties  above 
complained  of,  these  enterprises  arc  subject  to  other 
grievances,  which  we  respectfully  hope  will  meet  a 
speedy  and  complete  redress. 

By  the  4th  section  of  the  act  concerning  letters- 
of-marque,  prizes,  and  prize-goods,  it  is  provided  "That 
all  captures  and  prizes  of  vessels  and  property  shall  be 
forfeited,  and  shall  accrue  to  the  owners,  officers  and 
crews  of  the  vessels  by  whom  such  ca})tures  and  prizes 
shall  be  made,  and  on  due  condemnation  had,  shall  be 
distributed  according  to  any  agreement  which  shall  be 
written  between  them,  and  if  there  be  no  such  agree- 
ment, then  one  moiety  to  the  owners,  the  other  to  the 
officers  and  crew,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  according  to  the 
rules  prescribed  for  the  distribution  of  prize-money,  by 


92 


Tin:  AMiiincAN  i'UiVATi;i:us. 


[1818. 


tin?  jkM  (Mitillcd  'An  act  for  tlio  bt'ttcr  government  of 
llic  Xiivv  of  the  riiiU'(l  States.'  To  this  suet  ion  no  other 
eonstniclioii  <'aii,  in  tlie  opinion  of  your  nienioriahstH, 
reasonably  be  ^iven,  tiian  that  the  eapture,  wlion  a.seer- 
tained  to  be  a  hiwf'iil  pii/e,  is  to  be  tit  the  disi)()sal  of 
tlic  eaptors,  to  be  by  tlieni  distributed  according  to  the 
provisions  of  the  hiw. 

The  object  ol'  the  interference  of  the  ('ourt  of  Admi- 
ralty, is  sinii)ly  to  inquire  hito  the  character  of  the 
[)ri/e,  which,  if  enemy's  property  when  captured,  "ac- 
crues" and  "is  forfeited"  l)y  the  taking  to  the  captors, 
whose  i)roperty  therein  is  anirmcd,  not  actpiired,  by  the 
act  of  condenniation.  Tliis  i)roperty  is,  in  the  o})inic)n 
of  your  mcmoi'ialists,  the  undoubted  riglit  of  the  owner, 
derived  from  all  moi'al  and  political  rules  of  law  and 
justice,  to  dispose  of  as  he  deems  proper  ;  a  right  not  to 
bo  divested  but  by  delin([ucncy  or  crime.  In  the  dis- 
trict of  Iscw  York,  of  wdiicli  your  memorialists  are  inha- 
bitants, the  (^)urt  of  Admiralty  has  decided,  that  prizes 
when  condemned  shall,  in  every  instance,  be  sold  by  the 
marshal,  and  the  i)roceedH  deposited  in  the  hands  of  the 
clerk  of  the  court,  to  be  by  him  distributed. 

AN'hilst  your  memorialists  submit  with  respect  to  the 
authority  whence  this  decision  emanates,  they  must  com- 
plain of  the  hardness  of  its  consequences,  from  which 
they  respectfully  hope  Congress  will  see  the  necessity  of 
affording  immediate  relief.  It  is  manifest  that  sales  by 
the  marshal  must,  in  almost  every  instance,  be  conducted 
hastily,  and  without  regard  to  the  value  of  the  pro- 
perty, which  will  often  be  sold  at  times  and  places  unfa- 
vorable to  the  sale  of  the  commodity.  The  owners  will 
thus  be  (.  1  forced  and  passive  spectators  of  the  total  sac- 
rifice of  valuable  property,  which,  in  their  own  hands, 
would  yield  a  certain  profit,  were  they  permitted  to  dis- 


missions 


i 


1812.] 


THE   AMFRFCAN    PUrVATICRRS. 


93 


:tie 


jHjso  of  it  at  Huch  times  luul  j)lii('i»s,  on  Hiich  teiiiis  of 
credit,  and  in  hucIi  (piaiililics  as  are  acicoininodalcd  to  tlio 
demand. 

By  tlii.s  proceeding,  not  only  are  tlic  captor.s  deprived 
of  tlie  common  riglit  of  managing  their  own  conijernn  in 
their  own  way,  but  when  tlieir  ])i"o})erty  i.s  saerilicetl  at 
iiiiy  price,  the  proceeds  are  loaded  with  commissions  of 
ollicers  for  making  that  \'ery  Haeriliee.  Of  these  com- 
missions the  marshal  receives  one  and  a-(jnarter  j)cr  eent. 
on  the  gross  amount  of  sales,  which  includes  the  duty  and 
the  humane  fund,  established  for  the  HU})port  of  (lisal)led 
seamen  and  their  families,  and  constitutes  tax  upon  tax. 
This  gross  amount,  so  stri})[)ed  of  one  and  a-(|uarter  pel" 
cent.,  then  passes  into  the  hands  of  the  clerk,  where  it 
again  sulfers  a  diminution  of  one  and  a-(juarter  j)er  eent. 
for  receiving  and  paying  over.  After  these  dc(lnctions, 
the  payment  of  the  duties,  the  costs  of  condemnation, 
together  with  the  extra  ministerial  and  indispensable 
charges  of  the  two  per  cent,  invalid  fund,  agency, 
wharfage,  etc.,  the  owners,  oflic  s,  and  crew  are  pre- 
sented with  a  lean  account  of  profit,  if  not  of  absolute 
loss,  chilling  to  the  hoi)es  and  unnerving  the  arm  of  pri- 
vate enterprise.  Your  memorialists  trust  that  it  is  un- 
necessary to  enlarge  on  the  utter  impossibility  of  aiding 
the  country  by  a  continuance  of  services  burdened  with 
such  grievous  impositions.  To  Congress  they  confidently 
look  for  legal  provisions,  that  may  secure  to  owners  of 
private  armed  vessels  an  adequate  return  for  their  ex- 
pense and  risk,  to  the  brave  officers  and  crew  the  I'eward 
of  their  gallant  services,  and  to  their  widows  and  oi'phans 
the  humane  fund,  established  by  law,  uninipaii-ed  by 
official  exactions.  Your  memoi'ialists  would  suggest  the 
expediency  of  shortening  the  time  for  elfecting  the  con- 
demnation of  prizes,  and  of  limiting  the  ordinary  fees 


•J  I 


TIIK     AMKIUCAN     rUIVATKKRS, 


[IHJ:> 


1812.] 


of  oduMTH  of  till'  |)ii/(!  court  to  a  reriniii  sum,  as  was 
foriMcrly  do\m  in  this  country,  wlien  a  colony  of  (ircut 
Hriltiiu. 

Your  moinoiialislH,  while  (licy  tlirccl  the  attention  of 
(N)n^roH.s  to  the  foroji^'oin^  evils,  would  respectfully  fur- 
ther suji'^^est  the  |)r()|)riety  and  importance  of  grantin«,f 
lO  the  owners,  ollicors  and  crews  of  })rivate  armed  ves- 
sels, a  IxuMity  foi'  tlu^  d(\stru»!tion  of  enemy's  projx'rty. 
It  will  often  ))e  expedient  to  destroy  vessels  and  goods 
captured  to  pr(n'ont  almost  certain  recapture.  Thus, 
whilst  it  promotes  the  object  of  the  war  in  distressing 
the  enemy,  j)roduces  no  benefit  to  the  captors.  A 
bounty,  proportioned  to  the  tonnage  of  the  vessels  de- 
stroyed would  promitt  to  much  activity  and  vigilance, 
and  insure  the  loss  of  much  valuable  property  to  the 
enemy,  in  situations  whence  it  could  not  safely  be  car- 
ried into  port,  or  not  without  the  deduction  of  a  force 
disabling  the  captors  for  other  operations  of  equal  or 
greater  importance. 

To  redress  the  evils  above  complained  of,  and  to  en- 
courage and  promote  a  system  of  maritime  warAire  so 
beneficial  to  the  country,  and  so  mischievous  to  the 
enemy,  your  memorialists  would  earnestly  recommend 
that  i)rovision  bo  made  by  law — For  reducuig  the  duties 
on  prizes ;  for  delivering  the  prize  property  or  condem- 
nation to  the  captors,  to  be  by  them  disposed  of  and  dis- 
tributed ;  for  shortening  the  time  necessary  to  pronu'o 
condemnation  ;  for  limiting  the  fees  of  the  officers  of  the 
prize  courts  to  a  certain  sum  ;  and  for  authorizing  prize 
owners  or  their  agents  to  order  prizes  arrived  in  f^no 
port  to  any  other  port  at  their  discretion,  at  an^ 
before  the  actual  libelling  of  such  prizes. 

Your  memorialists  are  convinced  that  such  ^  ;i  pro- 
visions,  aiding  and  encouraging  the  patriotic  spuit  of 


our  ciliz 
hostile  I 
IVom  wl 
protect. 

.\'fw  Vork, 

The  al 
of  the  n 
Vork. 

School] 
of  Salem. 

Schoon 
(he  lilack 
of  Xorfoll^ 

Sloop  - 
ton  l)y  th( 

J^rig  Jc 
for  (libra I 
oofl'oc  and 
IVanklin, 

Sclioonc 
plaster,  sci 
Fiuno  is  01 

Schoone 
on  tlio  son 
''}  the  Ra| 

loont't 
gun  ai 
burnt. 
Schooner 


1S13.1 


TiiK  AMKiucAN  mrvATEnns. 


or, 


our  cili/ciis,  will  soon  cover   {.ho,  ocean  with  an  iictivc, 

hostile  arnuunent,   wlii<'h  no    vigilance  can  ehulc,   and 

IVoni   which    no  force,    however  great,  can    efieetually 
I  no  tec  I. 


Xtw  York,  Nov.  20th,  1812. 


TIIOMAH  KAIIMEU, 
THOMAS  ,II;NIvINS. 


The  above  moniorial  was  signed  l)y  a  largo  luimber 
of  the  most  respe(^tal)lc  merchants  belonging  to  New 
York. 

rniZKS  rAITlTUKP  ISV  rRIVATl'lKIlS. 

Pchoonor  Robin,  scMit  into  Portland  ])y  the  llevengo, 
of  Salem. 

Schooner  Sally,  of  Onracoa,  sc!il  into  (Miarleston  by 
tlie  Black  Joke,  of  Xew  York,  and  George  Washington, 
of  Xorfolk. 

Sloop ,  l)elonging  to  Tortohi,  sent  Into  Charles- 
ton by  the  Saucy  Jack. 

Jb'ig  John,  ten  guns,  twelve-pounder.":,  from  Laguira 
for  (libriiltar  ;  anew  and  valual)lc  vessel,  laden  with 
collec  and  cocoa,  sent  into  Charleston  ])y  the  ]?ciijamin 
Kranklin,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  Three  Sisters,  120  tons  burthen,  laden  with 
plaster,  sent  into  Salem  by  the  F'ame,  privateer.  The 
Fame  is  only  thirty  tons  Imrthen. 

Schooner  C^omet,  two  guns  and  small  arms,  captured 
on  the  (•outb  side  of  St.  Domingo,   sent  into  Savannah 
>  the  Rapid,  of  Charleston.     She  was  laden  with  sugar, 
■      vax,  tobac-'O,  and  dry-goods. 

:oonc'-  , -Searcher,  a  New  Providence  privateer,  of 
gun  and  twenty  men,  captured  by  the  Rapid,  and 
l.mnit. 

School; -r  Mary,  of  St.  Thomas,  captured  by  the  Rapid 


06 


THE     AMICniCAN     riaVATEKUS. 


[1812. 


1812.] 


and  lansoincd,  not  liaving  inou   to  spare   to  send  lior 
home. 

Brig  Union,  from  Ouornsoy  for  Granada,  ni  ballast, 
sent  into  Old  Town  ]»j  the  General  Armstrong,  priva- 
teer, of  Xew  York.     The  Union  carried  six  gnns. 

v^chooner  Neptune,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  salt,  and  oil 
taken  by  the  Revenge,  of  Halem,   and  sent  into  (\ipo 
Ann. 

Barqnc  Fisher,  from  Bio  Janeiro,  with  a  very  valu- 
able cargo,  and  considerable  specie,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth. 

Brig  James  Bray,  with  rum  and  pimento,  arrived  at 
Boston,  a  prize  to  the  Bunker  Hill. 

Brig  Lady  Harriot,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  from  Cadiz, 
sent  into  New  York  by  the  Orders  in  Council,  a  priva- 
teer of  tliat  place.     Good! 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  same  and  ransomed. 

Brig  Freedom,  700  hhds,  of  salt,  from  Cadiz  for  St. 
Johns,  sent  into  Marblchead  by  the  Thorn,  privateer. 

Tlie  s(;hooner  Amei'ica,  of  Newbury[)ort,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  privatcei's  Fame,  Industry,  and  Dromo, 
laden  with  salt. 

These  privateers  passing  Indian  Island,  a  British  post, 
were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy.  They  returned  the 
compliment,  and  determined  to  seize  all  the  vessels  then 
lying  there.  They  succeeded  only  in  getting  their  own 
neighbor's  vessel  out,  the  rest  being  run  on  shore.  She 
is  a  good  prize,  having  been  trading  with  the  enemy. 

Brio;  Fancv,  fcr  Jamaica,  a  valuable  vessel,  sent  into 
New  London  by  t.ic  Joel  Barlow,  privateer. 

Schooner  John  Bull,  a  king's  packet  out  of  New 
Froviderice,  chased  on  shore  on  Crooked  Island  by  the 
Bover,  of  New  York. 

Ship  John  Hamilton,  550  tons,  mounting  ten  guns. 


I\ve!/e  ] 

London, 

(iniore   b 

smart  acj 

xldii,  thoL 

Schoon 

liulen  witj 

tlie  Revci 

Brig  Bi 

.Salem  bj^ 

Brig  Vc 

laden  wit) 

Savannah  ', 

Nino  Bi 

llic  Patriot 

Packet 
Barbadoes, 
'iiiiore,  aftc 
of  the  Tow 
.'several  won 
Imd  only   t 
ovorboai-d, 
Baltimore  a 
Brig  Buic 
^vith  an  En^ 
f'aptured  by 
t'lat  port. 
'li-oggers,  (c( 
"I'the  West 
'■ommissar}^ 
•1  f]-r  of  tru 
'liael)  return 
^"f  his  kind 
Brig-  Critei 


1812.] 


THE    AMERICAN    riUVATEEUS. 


97 


Iwel/e  pounders,  and  thirty  men,  from  Honduras  for 
London,  laden  with  700  tons  of  mahogany,  sent  into  Bal- 
timore by  the  Dolphin  privateer  of  that  port,  after  m 
smart  action,  but  without  loss  of  a  single  life  on  either 
side,  though  several  were  wounded,     A  fine  prize. 

Schooner  Loreen,  from  Martinique  for  St.  Martin's, 
hulen  with  sugar  and  coflee,  sent  into  Philadelphia  by 
tlie  Revenge,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Bacchus,  of  Port  Glasgow,  in  ballast,  sent  into 
Salem  by  the  Ilevongc,  privateer. 

Brig  Venus,  from  Brazil  for  London,  ten  guns,  richly 
laden  with  502  bales  of  ooUon,  fustic,  etc.,  sent  into 
Savannah  by  the  privateer  Polly,  of  Salem. 

Nine  British  vessels  sunk,  burnt  and  destroyed,  by 
the  Patriot,  of  Nev/  York,  during  a  cruise  of  fifiy-six  days. 

Packet  Townsend,  fi-om  r'almouth  (England),  for 
Barbadoes,  heavily  armed,  captured  by  the  Tom,  of  Bal- 
limore,  after  a  severe  engagement,  in  which  the  captain 
of  the  Townseiid  and  four  of  lier  men  were  killed  and 
several  wounded.  The  Tom  was  but  little  injui'ed,  and 
had  only  two  men  wounded.  The  mail  was  thrown 
overboard,  but  recovered  by  the  Bona,  and  brought  to 
Baltimore  a  few  days  aftei*. 

Brig  Burchall,  a  packet  from  ]>arbadoes  for  Domarara, 
with  an  English  commissary  and  his  lady  on  board,  was 
captiu'cd  by  the  High  Flyer,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into 
that  port.  The  High  Flyer  has  cajitured  a  number  of 
ih'oggers,  (coasting  vessels),  plying  between  the  islands 
(if  the  West  Indies  ;  she  released  one  of  them  with  the 
I'ommissarj^  and  seventy-two  prisoners,  and  sent  her  as 
:)  ?r7  of  truce  into  Demarara.  The  Governor  (Carmi- 
I'haol)  returned  a  complimentary  l':'lLer  to  her  captain. 
for  his  kind  treatment  of  them. 

Brig  Criterion,  sent  into  New  York. 
7 


98 


TlIK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


Schooner 


driven  ashore  on  the  coast  of  Nova 


Scotia,  and  hurnt  by  tlic  Ilcvenge,  of  Salem. 

Sloo[)  Nelly  and  Parmelia,  captured  by  the  Revenge, 
of  Philadelphia,  was  wrecked  on  Chincoteague  Shoals  ; 
crew  and  cargo  saved. 

Schooner  —  -,  from  Quebe^j,  sent  into  New  York  by 
the  Retaliation,  of  that  port. 

Ship  ,   of  twenty-two  gmis,   and   full  of  men. 

driven  on  nhorc  after  an  engagement  of  thirty-five  min- 
utes, at  the  mouth  of  the  D(>marara  River,  by  the  Gen. 
Armstrong,  of  New  York.  This  privateer  has  returned 
to  port  after  a  brilliant  cruise,  having  captured  among 
others,  three  heavily  armed  and  very  valuable  vessels, 
neither  of  which  had  been  heard  of  when  she  arrived. 
She  also  seized  and  gnve  up  several  small  vessels. 

Brig  Two  Brothers,  sent  into  New  York  b^^  the  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  privateer. 

Brig  Active,  often  guns,  valuable,  sent  into  Charleston, 
S.  C,  by  the  High  Flyer,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  -  —  sent  into  Portland  by  a  lettcr-of-marqiio 
brig  from  that  port  for  France. 

Brig  Pomona,  from  Lisbon  for  Newfoundland,  a  valu- 
able vessel,  carrying  eight  twelve-pounders,  sent  into 
Belfast.  Maine,  by  the  letter-of-marque  Leo,  on  her 
voyage  to  France. 

Ship  Betsey,  -  guns,  for  Glasgow,  supposed  to 
have  a  quantity  of  specie  on  board,  sent  into  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C,  by  the  Revenge,  of  Baltimore, 

Brig  Dart,  eight  guns,  of  and  from  Port  Glasgow, 
I'ichly  laden  with  rum,  cotton,  and  cocoa,  captured  near 
the  Western  Islands  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  .ind  seiit 
into  that  port.  The  America  had  captured  two  otiioi' 
very  valuable  vessels,  and  at  the  time  the  prize  left  her. 
had  upwards  of  seventy  prisoners  on  board. 


1812.] 

Ship 

pool,  w 

sterling 

but  un 

perhaps 

was  bo  I 

Captain 

killed  b( 

was  not 

Schoo 

niaica  fc 

nah  by  tl 

guns  am 

gun  and 

Brig  ] 

Revenge 

was  first 

retaken  1 

Liverpoo 

whom  sh 

dry-good 

The  s( 

said  to  b( 

Three 

Jack's  Fi 

Schood 

Michael'sj 

In  a  sevi 

pelled  to 

crew,   si.^ 

cruise. 

Decembei 

tured,  mt 


1812.] 


TUB     AMERICAN     rRIVATEERS. 


99 


Ship  Quocii,  sixteen  guns  and  forty  men,  from  Liver- 
pool, with  a  cargo  invoiced  at  from  £70,000  to  £100,000, 
stcrUng,  captured  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  of  New  Yoik, 
but  unfortunately  wrecked  off  Nantucket.  She  was, 
perhaps,  the  most  valuable  i)rize  yet  made.  This  ship 
was  bound  to  Surinam,  and  was  bravely  defended,  the 
Captain,  his  first  officer,  and  nine  of  his  crew  being 
killed  before  she  was  surrendered.  The  Gen.  Armstrong 
was  not  much  injured  in  the  contest. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  dry  goods,  etc.,  from  Ja- 
maica for  the  Spanish  Main,  valuable,  sent  into  Savan- 
nah by  the  Liberty,  of  Baltimore.  The  prize  carried  two 
guns  and  had  thirty  men  ;  the  privateer  had  only  one 
gun  and  forty  men. 

Brig  Lucy  and  Alida,  a  very  valuable  prize  to  the 
Revenge,  of  Norfolk,  and  sent  into  that  port.  The  brig 
was  first  taken  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  of  New  York, 
retaken  by  the  British  letter-of-marque  ship  Brenton,  of 
Liverpool,  and  then  fallen  in  with  by  the  Revenge,  by 
whom  she  was  sent  into  port.  She  has  a  full  cargo  of 
dry-goods. 

The  schooner  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Liberty  is 
said  to  be  worth  $00,000. 

Three  vessels  captured  and  destroyed  by  the  privateer 
Jack's  Favorite. 

Schooner  Swift,  of  Plymouth  (England),  from  St. 
Michael's,  taken  by  the  Rolla,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 
In  a  severe  gale  of  wind.  Captain  Dewley  was  com- 
pelled to  throw  overboard  all  his  guns  but  one,  but  the 
crew,  sixty  in  number,  determined  to  continue  the 
cruise.  Near  Madeira,  from  the  12th  to  the  15th  of 
December,  without  the  loss  of  one  man,  the  Rolla  cap- 
tured, manned,  and  ordered  for  the  first  port,  the  fol- 


100 


THE     AMKKICAN     PHIVATEERS. 


fl8]2. 


lowing  immensely  valuable  vessels,  being  a  part  of  the 
Cork  fleet : 

Ship  Mary,  fourteen  guns,  of  Bristol,  laden  with  hard- 
wares, crates,  etc.  ; 

Ship  EHza,  of  ten  guns,  of  do.,  laden  with  20,000 
bushels  of  wheat  ; 

Shiji  Rio  Nouva,  eighteen  guns,  of  London,  laden 
with  dry  goods  ; 

Ship  Apollo,  ten  guns,  deeply  laden  with  king's  stores  ; 

JJrig  Boroso,  six  guns,  of  Cork,  laden  with  dry  good.s, 
beef  and  candles  ; 

Schooner ,  of  Aberdeen,  given  up  to  discluirge 

the  prisoners  ; 

Grand  total  :  seven  vessels,  fifty-eight  cannon,  150 
prisoners,  and  property  worth  between  two  and  tlirec 
millions  of  dollars. 

Shall  the  men  that  dare  such  deeds  as  these  be  stolen 
from  their  country  ?    No.     "  Impressment  must  cease." 

Sloop  Reasonable,  from  Porto  Rico  for  Martinique, 
chased  on  shore  on  the  north-east  end  of  the  former,  by 
the  Liberty,  and  destroyed. 

Schooner  Maria,  from  Jamaica  for  the  Bay  of  Hondu- 
ras, in  ballast,  taken  by  the  Liberty,  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Catharine,  three  guns  and  twenty-four  men, 
cargo,  provisions  and  dry  goods,  sent  into  Charleston,  a 
prize  to  the  Eagle  and  Lady  Madison,  privateers  of  that 
port. 

Schooner  Maria,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  dry-goods, 
captured  by  the  above,  and  released  to  discharge  their 
prisoners,  after  removing  the  cargo. 

Schooner  Rebecca,  laden  with  sugar  and  molasses, 
from  Trinidad  for  llalifa::,  sent  into  New  London  by 
the  privateer  Jack's  Favorite. 


1812.] 


THE    AMKlirCAN    I'HIVATEEUS. 


101 


Ship  Hope,  twelvo  guns,  from  Si.  Thomas  for  Ohis- 
gow,  400  tons  burthen,  with  a  full  cargo  of  rum,  sugar, 
cotton,  etc.,  vahial)le,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Amer- 
ica, of  Salem. 

Ship  Ralph,  from  Quebec  for  London,  a  very  large 
vessel,  mounting  eight  guns,  laden  with  timber,  etc., 
sent  into  Portland  by  the  same. 

IJrig  Euphomia,  ten  guns,  from  Laguira  for  Gibraltar, 
laden  with  400,000  pounds  of  coffee,  sent  into  Portland 
by  the  America. 

A  brig  and  a  schooner,  captured  by  the  Decatur,  off 
Madeira,  and  sent  to  France. 

Schooner  Meadow,  captured  by  the  Sparrow,  and  re- 
leased, after  divesting  her  of  a  quantity  of  dry-goods. 

Schooner  Erin, from  Curacoa  for  Jacquemel,  laden  with 
dry  goods,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Eagle,  of  that  port. 

Schooner  Mary,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from  Porto 
Rico  for  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the 
Eagle,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Peggy,  of  Barbadoes,  from  St.  Jolui's  (New- 
foundland), for  St.  Lucia,  taken  from  under  the  convoy 
of  two  British  sloops  of  war,  by  the  Hunter,  privateer, 
and  sent  into  Boston. 

Ship  Arabella,  of  500  tons,  eight  guns,  coppered, 
laden  with  coal,  plantation  utensils,  etc.,  from  Bristol, 
(England),  for  the  West  Indies,  sent  into  New  London 
by  the  Growler  privateer. 

A  schooner  and  sloop,  taken  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
and  released,  after  dispossessing  them  of  452  ounces  of 
gold  dust. 

Brig ,  captured  by  the  Growler,  privateer,  and 

released  after  dispossessing  her  of  many  valuables. 

Schooner  ,  captured  by  the  Gallinipper,  priva- 
teer, and  ransomed. 


102 


TUr:    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


Ship  Neptune,  ten  guns,  I'loni  London  for  Rio  Ja- 
neiro, with  a  very  rich  cargo  of  brandy,  wine  and  dry- 
goods,  sent  into  New  London  by  the  Decatur,  pi'ivatecr. 
The  Neptune  was  a  hirge  shij),  coppered,  and  of  the 
first  class.  Her  cargo  was  500  pipes  ol'  brandy  and  wine, 
twenty  bales  of  dry-goods,  and  ten  cases  of  watches. 
The  Decatur  had  taken  two  other  vessels  and  sent  them 
to  France. 

Ship ,  from  Quebec  for  London,  laden  with  tim- 
ber, comprising  the  whole  frame  of  a  sliip  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  sent  into  Kennebeck  by  the  America.  The 
timber  was  doubtless  duly  seasoned,  and  was  just  in  time. 

Ship  ,  twenty  guns,  laden  with   mahogany  and 

logwood,  sent  into  New  Orleans  by  the  privateer  Spy,  of 
that  port. 

Schooner  Prince  of  Wales,  captured  by  the  Growler, 
and  released  after  taking  out  a  few  pipes  of  Madeira 
whie,  etc. 

Ship  Aurora,  twch'e  guns,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of 
dry-goods,  worth  $300,000,  sent  into  Newport  by  the 
privateer  Ilolkar,  of  New  York. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  Mars,  privateer,  and  sent 
into  England  as  cartels.  The  Mars  arrived  at  New 
London  after  a  ci'uisc  of  one  hundred  days,  dui'ing  which 
time  she  took  eleven  prizes,  some  of  them  valuable.  She 
only  fired  seven  shois  during  her  cruise.  She  had  on 
board  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  caslj,  taken  out 
of  the  different  vessels,  whose  arrival  was  daily  looked 
for  at  that  time. 

Brig  Pelican,  from  London  for  Gibraltar,  with  a  cargo 
of  iron  and  fish,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Mars,  of 
New  London. 

Sloop ,  laden  with  hides,  sent  into  Ncwbern,  N. 

C,  by  a  privateer  of  that  port. 


Hrig 

mouth  f 

the  brig 

port.     ' 

Island  0 

a  stock 

On  this 

The  b 

idcnce,  i 

8100,00 

The  p 

Iranspor 

but  unf( 

into  Hal 

The  r 

April,  th 

a  valuabl 

removed 

About 

iVichols, 

frigate  Si 


While 
of  Baltim 
fell  in  wit 
gagement 
was  conti 
shot  dista 
not  a  ma 
the  Alger 
sary,  the 
two  shot 


1812.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


10:1 


Urig  Emu,  ton  guns,  tvvonty-livo  inon,  from  Ports- 
luoutli  for  Botany  Buy,  with  forty-nino  womeii-convicLs, 
the  brig  was  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Ilolkiir,  of  tliat 
port.  The  convicts  and  prisoners  were  hmdod  on  the 
Island  of  St.  Vincents  (one  of  the  Cape  de  Verds),  with 
11  stock  of  provisions  sufficient  to  hist  them  foui*  nu)nths. 
On  this  Ishind  there  is  no  want  of  watei". 

Tlie  brig  Ann,  10  guns,  from  Liverpool  for  New  I'rov- 
idence,  richly  laden  with  dry-goods  and  crates,  worth 
$100,000,  sent  hito  Marblehead  by  the  Growler. 

The  privateer  Hunter,  of  Salem,  captured  an  English 
liansport  carrying  ten  guns,  laden  with  military  stores, 
but  unfortunately  this  vessel  was  recaptured,  and  sent 
into  Halifax. 

The  Paul  Jones  privateer  captured  on  the  15th  of 
Ai)ril,  the  British  ship  Lord  Sidmouth,  having  on  board 
ii  valuable  cargo,  besides  $80,000  in  specie,  which  was 
removed  to  the  privateer. 

About  the  1st  of  June  the  privateer  Decatur,  Captain 
Nichols,  of  Newburyport,  was  captured  by  the  British 
frigate  Surprise. 


A  SEVERE  COMBAT. 


While  Captain  John  Murphy,  in  the  privateer  Globe, 
of  Baltimore,  was  cruising  off  the  coast  of  Portugal,  he 
fell  in  with  an  Algerine  sloop-of-war,  when  a  severe  en- 
gagement ensued  between  them.  Although  the  action 
was  continued  for  a  period  of  three  hours,  at  half-gun- 
shot distance,  it  is  strange  to  relate  that  the  Globe  lost 
not  a  man,  and  had  but  two  wounded.  The  shot  of 
the  Algerine  almost  invariably  passed  over  her  adver- 
sary, the  Globe  having  received  no  less  than  eighty- 
two  shot  through  her  sails.   How  much  the  sloop-of-war 


104 


Tin:    AMKRICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1812. 


sudbrcd  was  not  .ascortaiiiod,  hut  from  all  appearances, 
she  Tpuat  have  hecn  terribly  hulled  and  cut  to  pieces. 

Tlic  Globe  hauled  off  to  repair  damages,  and  the  Al- 
geriiic  seemed  unwilling  to  renew  the  conflict,  so  that 
both  parties  pr()])ubly  (^stt^'cmed  it  a  drawn  battle,  and 
accordingly  separated. 


CHAPTER     IV. 


nWPKRATK  BATTI-K  BFTTWUKN  TUB  I'lllVATKKU  (JK.NKIl.VI,  AUMSTRONd,  CAPTAIN  CIIAMl'- 
I.I.N,  AND  A  HUITIHU  KUKJATl'; — A  CltllSK  IN  TlIK  I'lll VATKKlt-llUIO  YANKKK — MHKI 
ANN,  A  rill/.K  TO  TlIK  .SNAP-DUAflilN  SKVKUAI,  I'UI/.m  l)V  TlIK,  SAICV  JACK,  <IK 
(•HAUI.KSTON  HOW  I'lUVATKKUS  MA.NAUB  To  TAKK  MKUI'lIANT  VtJiSKI.S  OUT  «)K  A 
KI.KKT  — A  <!l)i;r-l>K-MAIN— KXI'UWION'  nl"  A  PUIVAI'KKIt  -I'UI VATKKIl  WAHI'  CAl'TUUKI), 
AKTKIl  A  IIL.NM.NU  I'lOlIT  OF  MNK  UOUIld  A  VAI.UAIII.K  nil/K  UV  TlIK  I'lllVATKKn 
8XAP-1)UA()0N — nilAVK  DKKKNCK  OK  THE  SOllOONKll  I,OTTKKY  — A  UAIXANT  ACTION 
IIV  Tin;  7'UIVATKKIl  ItOLPHIN,  PAPTAIN  STAl'KOllII,  OKI'  CAPK  ST.  VINCKNT,  WITH  AN 
KXGLISH  HIIIP  AM)  A  IlllKJ  -HK  (1APTU1IK.S  TIIKM  IIOTII  -PATIIIOTISM  01'  TlIK  lUTV 
OK  HAl.TIMOnK — INTKIUWTING  CUL'ISK  OK  THK  KAMOl.S  CAPTAIN  BOYIj:,  ON  TlIK  COA»T 
(»K  IIIUZIL  ,VNI)  AMONa  THK  WtMT  INDIA  ISLANDS. 


FROM  A  CHARLESTON  PAPER  OF  APRIL  5Tn. 

"  Unequalled  Bravery. — Arrived  at  tliis  port,  yes- 
terday, the  privatoer-scliooiier  Gen.  Armstrong,  Guy  11. 
Clianiplin,  Esq.,  commander,  of  New  York,  from  a 
I'lTiise.     The  following  is  an  extract  from  her  log-book  : 

•'  March  11///,  1813. — These  twenty-four  hours  com- 
luonce  with  moderate  breezes  and  cloudy  weather. 
At  half-past  5  a.m.,  tacked  to  the  southward  and 
eastward.  At  7  discovered  a  sail  bearing  S.S.E.  At 
half-past  7  discovered  her  to  be  at  anchor  under  the 
land.  At  8,  she  got  under  way,  half-past  8,  she  got  sail 
on  her,  and  stood  to  the  northward  ;  she  fired  three  guns 
at  us  and  hoisted  English  colors.  We  were  then  in  five 
fathoms  water,  and  about  five  leagues  to  the  eastward 
of  the  mouth  of  Surinam  river.  At  ten  minutes  past  0, 
we  fired  the  centre  gun  and  hoisted  American  colors. 
At  forty-five  minutes  after,  she  tacked  and  stood  as  near 
us  as  the  wind  would  permit,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  on 
as  from  her  main-deck  guns.     At  a  quarter-past  10,  we 


lOG 


THK    AAIKKICAN    PUI VATIiKUS. 


[iHia. 


stuiidiiiL;"  to  \hv  iiorlhwjirfl,  and  liiiviii*^  llie  atlvaiituf^c  of 
rocoimoik'riiif^  \wv  with  our  .s})}-;;Iiiss(.'.s,  were  ofojiiiiiou 
sIk!  was  11  liritish  lottcr-or-iiiarciuc,  and  unanimously 
ii^recd  to  hear  (h)wii  and  hoard.  At  iiaif-pafst  10,  put 
our  ht'hu  u}),  and  l)ori'  down  on  her  with  intention  to 
give  lier  our  .starh(nii'd  hi'oadside,  and  to  wear  .ship,  and 
give  lier  our  iarhourd  liroad.side,  which  wa.s  all  I'eady  lor 
the  purpose,  and  hoard  lier.  Tlii.s  wa.s  all  done  with  the 
exception  of  hoarding  ;  we  found  .>^he  wa.s  a  Irigato, 
pierced  I'or  fourteen  guns  on  the  main-deck,  six  on  the 
(juarter-deck,  and  four  on  the  foreca.stle;  .^lie  had  her  star- 
hoard  tacks  on  hoard.  The  wind  heing  light,  and  keep- 
ing u})  a  constant  fire,  our  ves.'<cl  lay  ten  minutes  like  a 
log ;  we  shot  away  her  foretopsail  tie,  and  her  inizzeii- 
galV  halyards,  which  hrought  her  colors  down,  and  her 
inizzen  and  main-stay.  "We  thought  .she  had  struck,  and 
ceased  liring,  hut  wc  soon  saw  her  colors  Hying  again.  AVc 
recommenced  the  action.  She  lay  for  a  few  minutes 
apparently  unmanageahle,  hut  soon  got  way  on  her,  and 
opened  a  heavy  fire  on  us  from  her  starhoard  hroadsidc 
and  maintop,  no  douht  with  the  intention  of  sinking  us. 
We  lay  for  he  space  of  foi'ty-five  minutes  within  pistol- 
shot  of  her  ;  our  captain  standing  hy  the  centre  gun,  lircd 
one  of  his  pistols  and  .snapped  the  other,  when  he  vva.s 
wounded  hy  a  musket  hall  from  the  ship's  mahitop. 
The  hall  passed  through  his  left  shoulder.  He  walked 
aft  to  the  doctor,  and  had  his  wound  dressed.  We  lud'cd 
to  windward,  and  forercached  on  her.  In  this  action 
we  had  six  men  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  and  all  the 
halyards  of  the  hcadsails  shot  away,  the  foremast  and 
howsprit  one-quarter  cut  through,  and  all  the  fore  and 
mam  shrouds  hut  one  shot  away  ;  both  mainstays  and 
running  rigging  cut  to  i)ieces  ;  a  great  number  of  shot 
through  oiu'  sails,  and  several  between  wind  and  water, 


m 


m:i] 


TIIK     AMFRKWN     PUIVATKKRS. 


lo: 


wlii<*li  (MiiMcd  our  vosHol  to  leak.  Thoiv  wciv  ulso  li 
iimiilxM*  oi'Hhot  ill  our  luill.  In  tlii.s  .siluiilion  wo  l)o;^ai» 
to  iiiiikc  sail  from  lior  ;  <;ot  llio  loroslieot  lift,  ami  llio  jil» 
aiK.l  top-gallant-sail  on  lier,  and  by  tlio  assislaiK'c  of  our 
sweeps,  wo  soon  got  out  of  gun.shot.  J)uriug  tlio  time 
we  woro  getting  away  from  lior,  she  kept  \\\)  a  well- 
directed  lire  for  our  foremast  and  foregalV,  but  without 
cllcct." 

COMPrJ.MKXT  TO  VAT.OR. 

At  a  meeting  of  thestoekholdersof  th(!  pi"iva<e  rinod 
schooner  (Ion.  Armstrong,  (iuy  U.  (^hami)lin,  Vli  ^op'- 
niandor,  convened  at  Tannnany  Hall.  i)ursuant  lo  pulnie 
notice,  on  Wednesday  evening,  1  Ith  of  A])ril,  hSl)),  the 
following  resolutions  wore  unanimously  adopte<l  : 

^^  RrsoJrcd,  That  the  agents  be  ri'(|uested  t(»  transmit 
the  thanks  of  this  meeting  to  Captain  (J.  11.  Ciiam})lin, 
his  oflieers,  and  crew,  for  their  gallant  defence  in  an 
action  sustained  between  the  Gen.  Armstrong  and  a 
British  frigate,  off  Surinam. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  agents  present  Captain  G.  II. 
Champlin  with  a  sword,  at  the  expense  of  the  stock- 
holders, I'or  his  gallant  conduct  in  the  rencontre  above 
mentioned. 

"  Resolved   That  che  above  resolutions  be  published. 


"  THOMAS  FAPvlVIEU,  aairman. 


"THOMAS  JENKINS,  Secrctan/." 


llEitARKS  ON  THE  ACPION. 


The  writer  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Captain 
Guy  R.  Champlin  for  many  years,  lie  was  a  native  of 
New  London,  Connecticut.  A  more  woilhy  and  brave 
patriot,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  any  country.     In 


108 


THE    AMKUKJAN    IMil VATKKRS. 


[1813. 


tho  yeiu*  ISOfi,  wo  sailcMl  from  hcj^liorii  to  Xcw  Oi-Kmuih, 
niyscllaM  cliiof  nmto,  imd  Mr.  Cliaiiipliii  us  hucoiuI  mate 
of  the  sliij)  Miii'sliall,  of  New  York. 

Soon  iil'lci'  this  period  wo  both  horamo  .sirip-iiiiistoiM 
ill  llic  iiicrcliiiiii  service,  and  eoiitiiuuMJ  our  iiitiniacy  for 
more  than  ten  years. 

Ill  a  conversalion  with  hini  about  his  action  witli  tho 
Rritisii  IVi<;iile  oil' Surinam,  lie  said  lli;i<  when  the  Kw^- 
lishniairs  •••all-iiaul-yards  wore  shot  away,  and  liis  colors 
down,  he  thou'!,ht,  for  a  nionienf,  she  iiad  struck.  Thin 
circuinstiuico  occurred  while  the  ])rivateer  lay  withii 
hair  pistol-shot  of  the  enoniy's  cabin  windows,  and  had 
his  colors  been  llyin^,  ho  should  have  jiourod  a  (loiibK' 
charge  of  round  and  grape  from  his  long-tom  into  his 
cabin  windows,  which  would  have  raked  the  frigate's 
docks  fore  and  aft. 

A  person  on  board  of  the  Oon.  Armstrong  told  nic, 
tliat  after  (\q)tain  ('hamplin  was  faint  with  tho  loss  of 
blood  from  his  wounded  arm,  ho  was  })orsuaded  to  retire 
into  tho  Ciibin,  and  while  lying  thoro  on  the  Moor,  with 
a  loaded  i)istol  in  his  hand,  directly  above  the  magazine, 
he  overheard  something  said  on  the  quarter-deck  al'out 
striking  the  colors.  Tho  heroic  (^hiimplin  immediately 
requested  the  doctor  to  go  on  dock,  and  "  tell  the  odi- 
cors  and  men,  that  if  any  one  of  them  dare  to  strike  tho 
colors,  he  would  immediately  (ire  into  the  magazine,  and 
blow  them  all  to  hell  together." 

Every  person  on  board  knew  the  character  of  tluMi- 
commander,  they  consequently  had  the  choice  of  two 
evils  ;  therefore,  with  wdiat  sails  they  had  left,  and  by 
the  help  of  their  sweeps,  they  made  short  tacks  to  wind- 
ward, and  soon  got  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's 
shot. 

None  but  a  man  of  a  resolute  and  daring  character 


LSlU.J    • 


THE   AMKUICAN    I'KIVATKLUS. 


lO'J 


would  have  ca(!apc(l  capturo  mi(l(>r  llkt^  circunistancoH. 
Aiul  although  my  IVioiid  lias  Itci'ii  dtMul  many  years,  I 
am  liappy,  oven  at  this  Ial«'  day,  to  bom*  wiliu'sH  lo  tlu> 
litToic  bniVL'ry  of  this  (listiii^uishcil  American,  who  was 
an  honor  lo  his  Htuto  and  country,  and  richly  merits  a 
iiutional  moniiniont  to  perpetuate  his  devoted  patriot- 
ism. 


kii:kt  8An,iN(i. 

For  the  information  of  Ihose  unac(jUiiinte<l  with  Heel 
siiiiin;'',  r  will  endeavor  to  sketch  its  practice  with  the 
English,  in  the  years  1812,  'li;,  and  'II.  It  had  lon;,^ 
hocn  their  general  custom  when  at  wai'  with  other  lui- 
tioiis,  to  send  their  merchant  vessels  to  sea  in  fleets,  espe- 
cially so  when  en^a^ed  in  war  with  Fi'ance,  or  the  rruted 
States,  so  that  when  hostilities  connuenced  between  us, 
in  this  instauoe,  their  old  practice  was  ri^<;idly  j)ursued. 

For  this  purpose,  lar^e  numlters  of  ships  iuid  vessels 
of  every  description  were  collected  from  Scotland,  Ire- 
land, and  from  tlieir  own  ports,  to  some  convenient 
rcwlczvoiis  in  the  English  or  Irish  Channels,  gcnei'ally  at 
Portsmouth,  Plymouth,  or  Cork. 

To  collect  a  large  licet  in  this  way  often  occupied  sev- 
eral months.  .  When  a  considerable  nund)cr  were  thus 
got  together,  a  suitable  fo)-ce  was  appointed  to  convoy 
them  to  the  East  or  West  Indies,  or  lo  whatever  part  of 
the  woi'ld  might  be  their  destination. 

If  the  fleet  was  hirge  and  valuable,  they  generally  sent 
a  line-of-battle  ship,  connnanded  by  an  Admiral,  with 
one  or  two  frigates,  and  as  many  sloops-of-war  or  gun- 
brigs.  If  only  a  small  fleet  of  merchantmen,  then  a 
sniafler  force  was  sent  for  its  protection,  say  a  frigate  and 
one  or  two  sloops-of-war. 

When  nearly  ready  for  sea,  a  signal  was  nu\de  from 


110 


THE    AMERICAN    PUIVATFERS. 


1813. 


the  Admiral  or  Flag-sliip,  for  all  tlic  captains  of  mor- 
diant-vcssols  sailing  in  the  fleet  to  repair  on  board,  to 
receive  written  in^itructions  how  to  sail  under  his  con- 
voy, and  also  to  understand  the  necessary  sigrniLs. 
These  insti  actions  are  familiarly  called  "  sailing  orders.'' 

After  leaving  port  the  order  o^  sailing  is  as  follows: 
The  Admiral  or  Hag-ship  takes  the  lead,  and  proceeds  a 
shoi'l  distance  ahead.  She  is  called  the  van-ship.  To 
bring  up  the  i-ear,  they  appoint  a  fast-sailing  frigate,  so 
that  if  uec.'ssary  she  may  be  able  to  tow  up  any  dull- 
sailing  shi}),  to  prevent  her  being  left  astern  of  the  lleot. 
On  each  side,  or  what  a  soldier  would  call  "the  flanks," 
is  placed  a  sloop-of-war  or  a  gun-brig. 

In  this  manner  they  sail  from  England,  and  return 
there  iVom  their  foreign  ports.  The  first  jrder  is  for  no 
ship  to  g'^  ahead  of  the  admiral,  and  to  watch  and  obey 
fwl  the  signals  made  by  the  flag-sliip.  The  second  and 
never-failing  signal  is  constantly  repeated,  viz.,  for  the 
headmo-!i  shi})s  to  shorten  sail  and  for  the  sternmost  to 
make  all  sail  and  keep  up  with  the  fleet.  Every  now 
and  then,  one  of  the  frigates  or  sloops-of-war  is  ordered 
to  tow  up  som'3  dull  sailer  ahead  of  the  squadron.  To 
do  this,  a  large  hawser  is  maac  fast  lO  the  fore-mast  of 
the  merchantman,  when  she  is  towed  quite  ahead  of  the 
Hect,  th.at  is  to  say  just  under  the  stern  of  the  Admiral. 

Towards  evening,  or  at  nightfall,  a  signal  is  given  to 
dose  coiivoy,  and  sail  in  close  order,  or  in  other  words 
to  huddle  +ogcther  near  the  stern  of  the  leading  bully. 
This  maii  ouvrc  reminds  one  of  a  hen  gathering  her 
chickens  .o^jfher  to  protect  ^hem  from  a  ravenous  hawk. 

When  a  fleet  -^f  merchant  vessels  vras  collecting  in  the 
windward  or  leeward  West  IrHia  islands,  either  at  Tor- 
tola  or  Jamaica,  the  fact  was  generally  known  to  the 
American  pi ' /titeers.  in  time  to  p;ac(>  tlicMnsolves  on  the 


ri\  iP  lil 


1813.J 


THE    AMERICAN    rUlVATEEIlS. 


Ill 


qni-vive  to  catch  as  many  of  them  on  their  passage  homo 
as  tiioy  possibly  could. 

These  homeward-hound  sliips  were  generally  laden 
with  sugar,  coflee,  and  other  valuable  goods,  and  were, 
of  course,  objects  of  great  temptation  to  their  adversa- 
ries ;  consequently  they  wc  'c  frecpicntly  dogged  and 
watched  from  the  time  of  their  leaving  the  harbors  in  the 
West  Indies,  until  their  arrival  at  their  own  ports  at 
home. 

Two  privateers  in  company  stood  a  nuich  better 
chance  of  success  tlian  one  alone;  for  while  a  man-of-war 
was  sent  in  pursuit  of  one  o-'them,  the  other  was  ready 
to  pomice  upon  some  of  the  merchantmen. 

The  prize  crews  should  be  ready  at  a  moment's  waru- 
ing  to  be  thrown  on  board  of  the  prizes,  and  after  ta- 
king possession  of  them  they  are  ordered  to  run  to  lee- 
ward of  the  fleet,  se})arate  and  sleer  in  tluferent  direc- 
tions, so  jis  to  divide  the  attention  of  the  enemy  ;  for 
while  one  of  the  frigates  is  in  chase  of  the  privateer,  the 
'uiemy  must  retain  one  or  more  ships  to  protect  the  fleet ; 
f<o  that  the  i)rizes  have  time  to  make  tlieir  escape. 

At  other  times  it  happens  that,  when  the  captured 
vessel  is  too  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy,  the  prize- 
crew  are  obliged  to  leave  in  their  boats,  and  return  in 
hot  haste  to  the  privateer. 

It  not  unfrequently  occurs  that  a  privateer  may  run 
into  the  midst  of  a  fleet,  and  have  only  time  to  capture 
one  vessel,  place  the  crew  into  tlieir  own  boats,  apply 
the  torch,  and  leave  it  to  biu'n  in  defiance  of  their  adver- 
saries. 

Then  again  it  may  happen  that,  after  chasing  a  fleet 
for  several  days,  and  even  for  weeks,  if  the  weather  is 
fine,  no  opportunity  will  ofler  to  take  a  single  ship  ; 
hut  should  thick  weather  or  a  strong  gale  of  wind  inter- 


112 


TIIK    AMERICAN   riUVATKr.nS. 


[i8];j. 


voiie  and  .'■'Ciiaralc  IliiMii,  llieii  tlic  privateers  liave  capital 
picking,  and  have  only  to  select  tlie  most  valuable  ol'the 
sliips,  I'or  they  are  in  truth  like  sheep  without  a  shc})- 
herd.  In  sucli  cases,  the  privateersinen  generally  seize 
upon  the  specie  and  the  most  valuable  goods  ihey  (;aii 
find,  and  remove  them  to  the  privateer  for  fear  of  recap- 
ture, and  then  are  governed  b}'  circumstances  in  dispos- 
ing of  the  captured  vessels.  If  valuable,  and  they  can 
spare  men,  they  send  them  into  port;  if  not,  destroy  them; 
and  if  encumbered  with  too  many  pi-isoners,  they  fre- 
quently give  up  some  of  the  prizes  to  them,  and  allow 
them  to  return  home,  or  proceed  to  the  nearest  land. 

At  the  commencement  of  a  cruise,  before  one  gets 
hardened  to  the  business,  it  seems  harsh  and  cruel  thus 
to  distress  our  fellow-men  ;  but  such  is  war.  Whether 
by  sea  or  land,  its  features  arc  certainly  rough  and  un- 
christian-like, and  to  smother  rising  feelings  of  philan- 
thropy, one  is  obliged  to  call  to  remembrance  the  fact 
that  England  had  been  preying  upon  most  other  nations 
during  the  last  two  centuries  ;  and  towards  the  last  of 
this  war,  their  burning  Washington  was  a  sort  of  watch- 
word to  inspire  retaliation  and  revenge  for  past  inju- 
ries. 

In  the  year  1810,  two  years  previous  to  this  war,  the 
writer  of  this  sketch  commanded  an  American  vessel, 
and  sailed  in  a  fleet  of  about  GOO  sail  of  merchantmen, 
professing  to  be  neutral  vessels,  bound  from  Gotten- 
burg  into  the  Baltic  Sea,  to  different  ports  in  Ilussia, 
Prussia,  and  Sweden. 

We  left  Gottenburg  on  the  24th  of  October,  passing 
through  the  Great  Bob,  and  did  not  get  into  the  Baltic 
until  the  1st  of  Xovember.  We  were  convoyed  by  the 
St.  George,  a  line-of-battle-ship,  and  tw^  frigates.  The 
St.  George  led   the   van,  while   the   two  frigates  wcie 


1813.] 


THE   AMERICAN    nilVATEERS. 


113 


placed  on  each  side.  There  were  also  several  sloops-of- 
war  in  the  rear,  all  to  protect  the  fleet  from  the  Danish 
giin-Loats  that  constantly  threatened  us  on  all  sides. 

For  the  particulars  of  this  passage,  sec  '  CoggeshaH's 
Voyages,'  published  in  1852. 

Besides  the  merchant  vessels  that  sailed  to  and  from 
England  in  fleets  at  that  period,  under  convoy  of  British 
men-of-war,  there  was  a  class  of  private  armed  ships 
that  relied  on  their  own  strength  to  defend  themselves. 
These  were  called  running  ships,  and  were  insured  to 
prosecute  their  voyages  out  and  home  without  waiting 
for  convoy.  The  owners  of  this  class  of  vessels,  of 
course,  paid  a  higher  rate  of  premium  of  insurance 
against  capture  than  those  who  sailed  under  the  pro- 
tection of  ships-of-war.  It  therefore  followed  that 
many  of  our  largest  privateo/s  wore  fitted  out  almost 
expressly  to  capture  this  class  of  ships  ;  and  it  was  with 
them  that  maiy  a  hard-fought  battle  occurred.  After 
the  first  year  of  the  war,  it  was  found,  with  few  excep- 
tions, that  small  pilot-boat-privateers  were  too  weak  to 
make  many  captures,  the  enemy's  vessels  being  too  well 
manned  and  equipped  to  be  captured  by  these  small 
oraft.  Stifl  tiierc  were  a  few  of  them  that  continued  to 
make  short  cruises.  These  small  pilot-boat-privateers 
were  so  well  adapted  to  low  latitudes,  where  the  winds 
are  light,  and  the  weather  fine — as  is  almost  invariably 
the  case  along  the  coast  of  Florida,  and  among  the  West 
India  Islands — that  several  of  them,  like  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  a  few  others  of  like  character 
from  Baltimore,  continued  to  annoy  the  British  coasting 
trade  among  the  Islands>  and  occasionally  to  capture  a 
straggling  ship  in  the  Gulf  Stream  which  had  separated 
from  her  convoy  ;  and  thus  did  these  mischievous  little 
8 


114 


THE    AMERICAN    I'iilVATEEUS. 


[1813. 


vessels  continue  to  haniss  and  vex  the  enemy,  until  the 
peace  was  ratified  by  both  nations. 

PRIZES  CAITUIIED.BY   rmVA'I'EERS. 

The  privateer  Yankee  .arrived  at  Newport,  R.I.,  after 
a  cruise  of  about  150  days,  during  whicli  time  she  liad 
scoiu'cd  the  whole  western  coast  of  Africa,  taken  eiglit 
prizes,  sixty-two  guns,  19G  men,  490  muskets,  and  pro- 
perty worth  $200,000.  The  Yankee  liad  on  board 
thirty-two  bales  of  fine  goods,  six  tons  of  ivory,  and 
$40,000  worth  of  gold  dust.  She  looked  in  at  every 
port,  river,  town,  factory,  liarbor,  etc..  on  the  coast  ; 
touched  at  several  Portuguese  Islands  for  water  and  sup- 
plies.    The  following  is  a  list  of  lier  prizes  : — 

Hloop  Mary  Ann,  Sutherland,  of  London,  coppered, 
four  guns,  eleven  men  ;  liaving  on  board  gold  dust, 
ivor}',  and  camwood,  worth  $28,000  ;  took  out  the  cargo 
and  burnt  the  vessel. 

Schooner  Alder,  Crowley,  of  Liverpool,  coppered,  six 
guns,  nine-pounders,  twenty-one  men  ;  400  casks,  musk- 
ets, flints,  bar  lead,  iron,  dry-goods,  etc.  Vessel  and 
cargo  worth  $24,000.  Oi'dercd  to  the  first  port  in  the 
United  States.  In  the  contest  aii  explosion  occurred, 
which  blew  up  her  quarter-deck  and  killed  her  captain 
and  five  of  her  men. 

Brig  Fly,  Tydeman,  of  London,  six  guns,  fourteen 
men  ;  with  gold  dust,  ivory,  gunpowder,  iron,  dry- 
goods,  and  sundries  ;  ordered  to  the  first  port  in  the 
United  States.  Vessel  and  cargo  worth  $30,000  ;  taken 
under  Fort  Ap})olonia,  of  50  guns. 

BrigTtiames,  Toole,  of  Liverpool,  eight  guns,  fourteen 
men ;  with  i\  or}',  dry-goods,  and  camwood  ;  worth 
$40,000  ;  ordered  to  ^hc  first  port  in  the  United  State?. 

Brig  IIar»iet  and  Matilda,  Fninan,  of  Maryport,  from 


1813.] 


THE     AMERICAN     PrilVATEERS. 


115 


Cork  for  Pernambuco,  eight  guns,  fourteen  men  ; 
with  fine  cloths,  Unens,  iron,  salt,  porter,  etc.  ;  worth 
$11,000. 

lirig  Shannon,  Kendall,  from  Maranham  for  Liver- 
pool, ten  guns,  fifteen  men  ;  worth  $50,000. 

Andalusia,  Kcnall,  ten  guns,  100  men,  (eighty-one 
free  blacks)  ;  vessel  and  cargo  worth  $34,000  ;  arrived 
at  Savannah. 

Schooner  George,  cut  out  of  Tradostovvn  ;  cargo,  rice, 
part  taken  out,  and  vessel  given  up  to  the  prisoners ; 
worth  $2,500. 

Three  vessels  captured  on  the  Spanish  Main  by  the 
Snap- Dragon,  of  Newbcrn,  N,  C.  ;  divested  of  their 
valuables,  and  burnt. 

Three  vessels  taken  by  the  same  ;  valuable  articles 
removed,  and  all  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners. 

Sloop  ;  a  fine  copper-bottomed  vessel  ;   taken 

by  the  Snap-Dragon,  and  fitted  out  as  a  tender  and 
store-ship. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  privateer  Divided  We 
Fall,  and  ransomed. 

One  vessel  taken  by  the  same  privateer,  and  sunk. 

Three  vessels  taken  b}"  the  Divided  We  Fall,  and 
given  up. 

The  above  prizes,  we  presume,  were  West  India  trad- 
ing vessels,  commonly  called  "  drogers."  What  may  be 
called  the  coasting  trade  of  the  West  Indies,  was  a  very 
valuable  branch  of  the  British  commerce,  and  appears 
to  have  been  severely  handled. 

Port  of  New  York,  Ajml  li.th. — Arrived,  letter-of- 
inarque  schooner  Ned,  Captain  Dawson,  of  Baltimore,  for- 
ty-two days  from  La  Teste  (through  Long  Island  Sound). 
In  Ipi.  44°  54'  N.  long.  15"  W.,  fell  in  with  the  Eng- 
lii^h  letter-cf-marque  brig  Malvina,  of  Aberdeen,  mount- 


116 


TUB     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


ing  10  guns^six  and  nine  pounders — and  after  a  close 
action  of  fifty-two  minutes,  succeeded  in  capturing  lier. 
The  captain  of  the  Malvina  was  killed.  The  Ned  luul 
seven  men  badly  wounded.  The  Malvina  was  from  the 
Mediterranean  for  London,  laden  with  wine.  Put  Cap- 
tain Penderson,  as  prize-master,  and  a  crew  on  board  of 
her,  and  ordered  her  into  an  American  port. 

On  the  18th  inst.,  the  Ned  was  chased  oiT  the  Chesa- 
peake by  a  seventy-four  and  a  frigate  ;  on  the  lOtli 
was  chased  off  the  Delaware  ;  on  the  20th  was  chased 
off  Sandy  Hook ;  and  on  the  21st  got  in  at  the  east  end 
of  Long  Island,  through  four  or  five  ships-of-war.  She 
touched  at  New  London  for  a  Sound  pilot. 

Brig  Tartar,  with  IGO  hhds.  of  rum,  sent  into  George- 
town, S.  C,  by  the  Gen.  Armstrong,  pi'ivatccr.  The 
Tartar  being  chased  by  a  British  government  brig,  was 
wrecked  on  the  bar  ;  people  and  cargo  saved. 

Schooner  Fox,  a  British  tender  of  three  guns,  com- 
manded by  the  first  lieutenant  of  a  seventy-four,  cap- 
tured by  the  Hero,  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  fitted  out  for 
the  occasion,  and  manned  by  volunteers. 

Brig  London  Packet,  from  London  for  St.  Michael's, 
taken  by  the  Paul  Jones,  and  wrecked  on  Nantucket. 

Brig  Return,  of  London,  from  Cumana ;  sent  into 
Chatham  by  the  Paul  Jones. 

Schooner  Farmer,  of  Nassau,  N.  P.,  laden  with  cotton, 
captured  by  the  Sparrow,  oi  Baltimore,  but  given  up. 

The  Captain  of  the  Farmer  speaks  in  the  handsomest 
terms  of  the  liberal  conduct  of  Captain  Burch,  of  the 
Sparrow.  The  most  trifling  article  was  not  permitted 
to  bo  touched.  He  would  n^t  even  receive  some  poultry 
without  paying  for  it. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  Wasp,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  Crown,  a  British  privateer,   captured   off 


1813.] 


THE    AMKUirAN    IMIIVATEKUS. 


117 


Waldoboro  by  a  sloop  fitted  out  at  that  placo,  and  man- 
ned by  volunteers. 

Ship ,  sent  into  Brest  (France),  by  the  privateer 

True-blooded  Yankee,  said  to  be  worth  from  $400,000 
to  $500,000.  This  privateer  had  taken  five  other  valu- 
able prizes.  One  loaded  with  dry-goods  and  Irish  linens 
had  been  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  Oiiarlotte, ,  with  a  cargo  of  dye  wood,  etc., 

captured  o(f  the  English  Channel  by  the  Montgomery,  of 
Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Privater  schooner  Richard, guns,  captured  by 

the  Holkar,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 

Privateer  sloop  Dorcas,  taken  by  the  same  ;  armament, 
etc.  destroyed,  and  given  up  to  exchange  the  pri- 
soners. 

Brig  Edward,  eight  guns,  from  Brazil  for  London, 
laden  with  180  bales  of  cotton,  etc.  ;  a  valuable  prize, 
sent  into  Salem  by  the  Alexander,  of  that  port.  The 
Alexander  had  also  captured  a  brig  of  sixteen  guns,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  gunpowder,  etc. 

Schooner ,  taken  by  the  Alexander  ;  her  valuable 

articles  taken  on  board  the  privateer,  and  then  given  up 
to  the  prisoners. 

Brig  Mars,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  laden  with  rum  ; 
sent  into  Portsmouth,  N,  H.,  by  the  Fox,  privateer. 

Ship  Nancy, guns,  sent  into  Bristol,  R.  I.,  by  the 

Yorktown,  of  New  York. 

Schooner  Delight,  from  Bermuda  for  Halifax,  laden 
with  wine  and  silks  ;  sent  into  Machias  by  the  privateer- 
boat  Fame,  of  Salem. 

King's  packet  Marj?-  Ann,  twelve  guns,  from  Malta, 
having  touched  at  Gibraltar,  for  England,  captured  after 
an  obstinate  battle  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins,  of  New  York, 
and  sent  into  Boston,     $60,000  in  gold  and  bullion,  and 


118 


THE     AMEUICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


the  mail,  wore  ainon*^  the  si)oils  of  tlio  ooiujiiorors.  The 
privateer  had  no  person  hiii't.  One  man  wan  killed  and 
several  wounded  on  l)oard  the  packet. 

Ship  Dromo,  12  j^uns,  (Vom  Liverpool  for  Halifax, 
with  a  car^o  invoiced  at  $70,000,  «terrni<^',  .sent  into 
Wisoasset  hy  the    Thomas,    of   Portsmouth, 

Brig ,  sent  into  Boothhay   by  tlie   same,  with  u 

very  valuable  eargo.  It  is  said  the.se  two  vessels  pro- 
duced the  eaptors  more  than  $500,000. 

The  corvette  shi})  Invincible  Napoleon,  10  guns,  .sent 
into  Portland  by  the  Young  Teazei',  of  New  York. 

Packet  Ann,  of  10  guns,  a  valuable  pi'ize,  sent  into 
Portland  b}-  the  Young  Teazer. 

Schooner  Greyhound,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  same. 

Brig ,    sent  into  Portsmouth   by  the   Governor 


Plumer,  privateer  of  that  i)ort, 

British  packet  Express,  captured  off  the  coast  of  Bra- 
zil by  the  Anaconda,  of  New  York,  divested  of  her 
Hpccie,  $80,000,  and  given  up  to  discharge  the  pri- 
soners. 

Brig  ^Fiiry,  8  guns,  laden  with  wine,  valuable,  sent 
into  New  Haven  by  the  Anaconda. 

Ship  William,  10  guns,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  dry- 
goods,  crates,  wine,  etc.,  from  Cork  for  Buenos  Ayres, 
captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that 
port. 

Brig  Harriet,  with  a  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  from 
Buenos  Ayres,  sent  into  New  Bedford  by  the  Anaconda, 
of  New  York. 

Schooner  Pearl,  from  Curacoa,  for  St.  Croix,  with  a 
cargo  of  corn  meal,  etc.,  scut  into  Savannah  by  the 
Libei'ty,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop ,  a  British  privateer  of guns,  captured 


1813.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    I'RIVATKEUS. 


110 


by  the  Liberty,  and  divcstod  of  her  arniiimentaiHl  vahi- 
ablc  articles,  and  then  given  up  for  want  of  room  for  tlio 
prisoners. 

jji-ijr  ^   captured    and   burnt   by    the   Oovernor 

IMunier,  privateer.  Siie  was  bountl  from  Hull  to  llal- 
ilax. 

Brig ,  from  Lisbon  to  Loudon,  with  a  cargo  of 

cotton,  taken  by  the  lettev-of-uianpie  scliooncr  Sabine, 
of  JJaltimore,  on  her  way  to  France,  and  burnt. 

Ih'ig  Kingston  Packet,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  rum, 
olc,  brought  into  Ocracock,  North  Carolina,  by  the  Olobe, 
of  lialtimore. 

Schooner  Britannia,  from  St.  Joliiis  for  the  West  In- 
dies, sent  iuto  Portlaud  by  the  Grand  Turk. 

Ship  Loyal  Sam,  10  guns,  from  Nassau,  N.  P.,  for 
England,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Siro, 
(if  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  fi'om  Franco,  and  ordered 
(()  a  southern  port.  The  Loyal  Sam  had  $2.3,500  in 
specie  on  board,  and  a  quantity  of  indigo  which  came 
safe  to  Portland,  where  the  Siro  arrived  soon  after. 

Ship  Venus,  14  guns,  from  Cadiz  for  Newfoundland, 
with  a  full  cargo  of  salt,  sent  into  Beaufort,  S.  C,  by  the 
Globe. 

Brig  David,  from  Waterford  for  Halifax,  laden  with 
provisions,  sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Gov.  Plumer, 
privateer. 

Brig  iijax,  2  guns,  captured  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins. 
The  prize  did  not  arrive,  but  a  handsome  quantity  of  dry 
goods  that  wore  on  board  of  her  having  been  transferred 
to  the  privateer,  came  safe  to  New  York. 

Brig  Hartley,  2  guns,  from  Gibraltar  for  St.  Salvador, 
taken  by  the  Gov.  Tompkins  and  burnt. 

Transport  ship  from  Lisbon  for  England,  captured  by 
the  letter-of-marque  Bellona,  of  Philadelphia,  on  her 


120 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    rUIVATKFiRS. 


1181.1. 


piVKKU'iic  from  France.  Tlui  i)ris()iicrs  woro  paroled  for 
exchange,  and  tlie  vessel  ransomed. 

lirig  (Jen.  I'revoHt,  from  Halifax  for  Denuirara,  cap- 
tured by  the  Holla,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  New  Or- 
leans. 

Hchoonor  Brown,  of  London,  captured  by  the  Icttcr- 
of-mar((ue  Ikdlona,  of  Pliiladelphia.  and  ransomed. 

The  noted  schooner,  Tiiverpool   l*ackct,  of guns, 

Carried  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Thomas  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  South  America  for  London,  with  u 

valuable  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  sent  into  Provi- 
dence by  the  Yorktown,  of  N.  Y. 

Pliip  Susan,  of  fJvcrpool,  from  (libraltar  for  that  port, 
captured  by  an  American  Ictter-of-marque,  and  carried 
into  Marcnncs,  Prance. 

Ship  Scaton,  captured  by  the  Paul  Jones,  and  after- 
ward burnt  by  the  (llobo,  at  the  request  of  the  Prize- 
Master,  she  not  being  seaworthy. 

Schooner  Elizabeth,  from  Lisbon  for  London,  captured 
by  the  Globe,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Polhain,  from  Lisbon  fc»r  I'igaro,  laden  with  rum, 
captured  by  the  Globe,  and  burnt.  The  Globe  captured 
and  ordered  into  port  several  valuable  vessels. 

Brig  Margaret,  220  tons,  10  guns,  laden  with  1000 
hhds.  of  salt,  from  Cadiz  foi-  Newfoundland,  captured  by 
the  America,  of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Brig  Morton,  12  guns,  from  London  for  Madeira,  cap- 
tured by  the  Yorktown,  divested  of  her  dry- goods,  worth 
£7,000,  sterling,  and  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Three  schooners  captured  by  the  Young  Teazer,  and 
sent  into  Portland,  one  laden  with  salt,  the  other  two 
with  146  puncheons  of  Jamaica  rum,  and  some  ma- 
hogany. 

Brig  Sally,   Budford,  of  London,  from   Plymouth  to 


1813. 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    IMll VATKKRS. 


121 


IMctoii,  in  l)allaHt,  with  somo  corclii^^c  luid  crockery — 
mouiitiii<5  1  Cour-poundors — by  tlio  hciijiuiiin   franklin. 

\\v\^ ,  from  Jamaica,  sent  into  Now  York  ;  prize 

to  the  Toazer. 

Brig  Hero,  from  St.  Andrews,  sent  into  Castine  by 
the  Teazor. 

Bri^  llesoliition,  with  flour,  arrived  at  Portland,  prize 
to  the  Nancy,  (^ai)tain  Smart. 

Ih'ig ,  from  .lamaica  for   Madeira,   laden    with 

wine,  arrived  at  New  London,  a  prize  to  tlie  Marengo. 

Bi'\^  ,  from  the  Leeward  Islands   to  Guernsey, 

mounting  six  guns,  with  a  full  cargo  of  West  India  pro- 
duce, arrived  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  a  prize  to  the  Gen. 
Armstrong. 

Brig ,  with  salt,  cut  out  of  Turk's  Island,  by  the 

Orders  in  C-ouncil,  arrived  at  New  York. 

Brig ,  a  new,  light  vessel,  from  Gibraltar  to  Ilali- 

fiix,  a  prize  to  the  John,  arrived  at  Boston. 

Brig  Ann,  prize  to  the  Teazer,  arrived  at  an  Eastern 
port. 

Brig  Thomas,  from  Aberdeen  for  the  River  St.  Law- 
rence, mounting  two  guns,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 
Decatur,  and  sent  as  a  cartel  to  Halifax. 

Brig  Tulip,  British  property  under  American  colors, 
sent  into  Philadelphia  by  the  Atlas,  Captain  Maflct. 

Brig  • ,  14  guns,  arrived  at  New  York,  sent  in  by 

the  Holkar. 

Bark ,  captured   and   burnt    by   the  Dolphin, 

Captain  Endicott,  on  her  second  cruise. 

Ship  Eliza  Ann,  from  Liverpool,  arrived  at  Boston, 
prize  to  the  Yankee. 

Schooner  Success,  from  Newfoundland  for  New  Bruns- 
wick, 250  barrels  of  salmon,  prize  to  the  Benjamin 
Franklin. 


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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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122 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


Schooner  Lady  Clark,  arrived  at  New  York,  August 
31st,  prize  to  the  Bunker  Mill. 

Schooner  Sally,  from  Sidney,  N.  S.,  arrived  at 
Boston,  a  prize  to  the  Wiley  Reynard. 

Schooner  Blonde,  from  Dominico  for  St.  Johns,  N.  F., 
prize  to  the  John. 

Schooner ,  from  Jamaica,  with  ICO  puncheons  of 

rum,  arrived  at  Salem,  prize  to  the  John. 

Armed  schooner  Dorcas,  taken  by  the  Liberty,  of  Bal- 
timore, diveslod  of  her  dry-goods,  etc.,  and  released. 


EXTRACT  FROM  A  NEW  YORK  PAPER  JULY  Cin,  1813. 
"  A  COUP  DE  JIAIN.'' 

"  Yesterday  foi'cnoon  a  fishing-sniack  was  sent  out 
from  Mosquito  Cove  by  Commodore  Lewis,  who  has  the 
command  of  a  flotilla  of  gun-boats,  stationed  off  the 
Hook,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  by  stratagem  the  sloop 
Eagle,  tender  to  the  Briti  h  74  Poicticrs,  cruising  on 
and  off  Sandy  llook  light-house,  which  succeeded  to  a 
charm. 

"The  smack,  named  the  'Yankee,'  was  borrowed  of 
some  fishermen  at  V\y  market,  and  a  calf,  a  sheep,  and 
a  goose,  purchased,  and  secured  on  deck.  Between 
thirty  and  fort}^  men  well  armed  with  muskets,  were 
secreted  in  the  cabin  and  fore-peak  of  the  smack.  Thus 
prepared,  she  stood  out  to  sea,  as  if  going  on  a  fishing- 
trip  to  the  Banks — three  men  only  being  on  deck, 
dressed  in  fisherman's  apparel,  with  buff  caps  on.  The 
Eagle,  on  perceiving  the  smack,  immediately  gave  chase, 
and  after  coming  up  with  her,  and  finding  she  had  live 
stock  on  deck,  ordered  her  to  go  down  to  the  Commo- 
dore, then  about  five  miles  distant.  The  watch-word 
*  Lawrence,'  was  then  given,  when  the  armed  men  rushed 
on  deck  from  their   hiding  places,  and  poured  into  her 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


123 


a  volley  of  musketry,  which  struck  her  crew  with  dis- 
may, and  drove  them  all  down  so  precipitately  into  the 
hold  of  their  vessel,  that  they  had  not  time  to  strike 
their  colors.  Seeing  the  deck  was  cleared  of  the  enemy, 
sailing-master  Percival,  who  commanded  the  expedition, 
ordered  his  men  to  cease  firing — upon  which  one  of 
the  enemy  came  out  of  the  hold,  and  struck  the  colors 
of  the  Eagle.  She  had  on  board  a  thirty-two-pound 
brass  howitzer,  loaded  with  cani.ster  shot  ;  but  so  sud- 
den was  the  surprise,  they  had  not  time  to  discharge  it. 
The  crew  of  the  Eagle  consisted  of  II.  ]\Iorris,  master's- 
mate  of  the  Poictiers,  W.  Price  midshipman,  and  eleven 
marines.  Mr.  Morris  and  one  marine  were  killed  ;  Mr. 
Price  mortally,  and  one  marine  severely  wounded. 

"  The  Eagle,  with  the  prisoners,  was  brought  up  to 
town  yesterday  afternoon,  and  landed  at  Whitehall, 
amidst  the  shouts  and  plaudits  of  thousands  of  specta- 
tors assembled  on  the  Battery,  celebrating  the  Fourth 
of  July." 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 


Thus 
hing- 
eck, 
The 
base, 
i  live 
nmo- 
word 
ishcd 
0  her 


Brig  Union,  from  Ireland,  laden  with  provisions, 
sent  into  Abrevrehe,  (France),  by  the  True  Blooded 
Yankee. 

Ship  Aurora,  from  Belfast  for  London,  sent  into  Ros- 
coff,  (France),  by  the  same. 

Ship ,  of  20  guns,  chased  on  shore,  on  the  coast 

of  Africa,  by  the  Bambler,  of  Bristol. 

Ship  Integrity,  from  Waterford  to  Lisbon,  captured 
between  Waterford  and  Cork,  by  the  True-Blooded 
Yankee,  and  carried  into  Norway. 

Brig   Avery,  from  Magadore,   12   guns,  laden  with 


124 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


gums,  almonds,  beeswax,  etc.,  sent  into  New  Bedford 
by  the  Yorktown,  valued  at  $200,000. 

Schooner  Leonard,  taken  and  sunk  in  Dublin  Bay,  by 
the  True  Blooded  Yankee. 

Brig  Betsey,  with  a  full  c  "go  of  wine,  raisins,  etc., 
from  Malaga  for  St.  Petersburg,  sent  into  Plymouth  by 
the  Jack's  Favorite,  valued  at  $75,000. 

Schooner  Three  Sisters,  of  Bermuda,  with  a  cargo  of 
flour,  etc.,  sent  into  St.  Mary's  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  of 
Charleston. 

Schooner  Gen.  Horseford,  of  210  tons,  with  a  valuable 
assorted  cargo,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Decatur. 

Brig  Nelly,  from  Cork  for  Newfoundland,  captured 
by  the  Fox  of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt  after  dispossessing 
her  of  her  valuable  articles. 

Sloop  Peggy,  from  Greenock  for  Limerick,  captured 
by  the  same  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Brother  and  Sister,  from  Liverpool  for 
Westport,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Louisa,  captured  by  the  Fox,  and  ransomed. 

Sloop  Fox,  from  Liverpool  for  Limerick,  valuable, 
captured  by  the  privateer  Fox,  and  sent  to  Norway. 

Sloop  William  and  Ann,  from  Newcastle  for  Gallo- 
way, captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  France. 

Sloop  James  and  Elizabeth,  captured  by  the  same  and 
ransomed. 

Brig  Chance,  from  Liverpool  for  Newfoundland,  cap- 
tured by  the  Fox  and  sent  to  Norway. 

Brig  Mary,  from  Cork  for  Pictou,  captured  by  the 
same  privateer  and  burnt. 

Ship  Venus,  an  American  vessel,  sent  into  Salem  by 
the  Dolphin  privateer,  enemy's  property,  condemned  to 
the  amount  of  $60,000. 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


125 


TERRIFIC   EXPLOSION. 

In  June,  1813,  the  privateer  Young  Teazer,  belong- 
ing to  New  York,  was  destroyed  by  a  desperado  by  the 
name  of  Johnson, 

This  man  had  formerly  commanded  the  Old  Teazer. 
When  that  vessel  was  captured  by  Admiral  Warren's 
fleet,  Johnson  was  released  on  his  parole.  Not  long  after 
he  had  obtained  his  liberty,  without  waiting  to  be  regu- 
larly exchanged,  he  entered  as  first  lieutenant  on  board 
of  the  Young  Teazer. 

By  letters  from  several  of  the  crew  (prisoners  in  Hali- 
fax) to  the  agents  of  the  privateer,  we  learn  the  follow- 
ing particulars  of  the  sad  catastrophe  : 

While  the  Teazer  was  closely  pursued  by  an  English 
man-of-war,  and  in  great  danger  of  being  taken,  Capt. 
Dawson  (who  commanded  the  privateer),  called  his  offi- 
cers aft  to  consult  on  what  had  better  be  done.  While 
they  were  deliberating  on  the  subject,  one  of  the  sailors 
called  aloud  to  the  Captain,  that  Lieutenant  Johnson  hod 
just  gone  into  the  cabin,  with  a  live  brand  of  fire  in  his 
hand.  In  another  instant,  the  Young  Teazer  was  blown 
up.  All  the  crew  perished  with  her,  except  seven  sea- 
men who  were  standing  on  the  forecastle,  one  of  whom 
died  soon  after. 

Had  Johnson  blown  his  own  brains  out,  or  tied  a  gun 
about  his  neck,  and  thrown  himself  overboard,  some 
would  have  mourned  for  him,  and  none  found  fault.  By 
all  accounts  he  was  not  one  of  the  most  amiable  men  liv- 
ing ;  on  the  contrary,  the  desperate  wretch  must  have 
been  possessed  of  the  devil,  to  have  pkmged  so  many 
human  beings  into  eternity  without  a  moment's  warning. 
Many  of  them,  it  is  said,  had  wives  and  children  to 
mourn  their  untimely  fate. 


12C 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


Juhj  3l5/. — The  privateer  sloop  Wasp,  Capt.  Ervin,  of 
Salem,  carrying  2  guns,  with  small  arms,  etc.,  fought 
the  British  Government  schooner  Bream,  of  10  guns, 
upwards  of  nine  hours,  viz.,  a  running  fight  for  8  hours, 
and  at  close  quarters  for  about  45  minutes,  and  was  af- 
terwards taken.  The  Lieutenant  commanding  the  Brit- 
ish schooner  being  a  gentleman,  treated  Capt.  Ervin  and 
his  crew  with  great  kindness,  for  their  bravery  in  de- 
fending their  little  vessel  so  resolutely. 


REMARK. 


The  conduct  of  th6  British  officer  towards  his  prison- 
ers in  this  little  action,  is  an  infallible  sign  of  a  brave, 
kind-hearted  man. 


T 

brig 
go  o: 


Mc 

Willir 

Jim 

Earl  < 

Jiin 

cotton 

day,  t( 

$70,0C 

My 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Three  vessels  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and 
given  up  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners,  she  being  incom- 
moded by  too  great  a  number. 

Schooner ,  from  the  Falkland  Islands  for  Lis- 
bon, captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  her  cargo 
of  skins  taken  on  board  the  privateer. 

Brig ,  heavily  laden,  sent  into  Bristol,  R.  I.,  by 

the  Yankee,  of  that  port. 

Ship  London  Trader,  2  guns,  from  Surinam  for  Lon- 
don, sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Decatur,  laden  with  209 
hhds.  of  sugar,  140  tierces  of  molasses,  55  hhds.  of  rum. 
700  bags  of  coffee,  50  or  60  bales  of  cotton,  and  some 
other  articles. 

Brigs  Good  Intent,  Venus,  Happy,  bark  Reprisal, 
and  schooner  Elizabeth,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon,  of 
North  Carolina,  and  destroyed  or  given  up. 


1813.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


12: 


The  privateer,  when  hxst  seen,  had  in  company  the 
brig  Ann,  from  England  for  Nova  Scotia,  with  a  full  car- 
go of  cloths,  cassimeres,  etc.,  valued  at  $500,000. 

THE  YANKEES  CRUISE. 

Maiy  20th. — Left  Newport.  23d. — Recaptured  brig 
William. 

Jime  2 2d. — Close  in  with  Ireland,  took  the  cutter-sloop 
Earl  Camden,  valued  at  $10,000;  ordered  for  France. 

Jnne  30th. — Took  brig  EHzabeth,  2  guns,  laden  with 
cotton,  valued  at  $40,000  ;  ordered  for  France.  Same 
day,  took  brig  Watson,  laden  with  cotton,  valued  at 
$70,000;  ordered  her  for  France. 

Juifj  2d. — Ireland  in  sight,  took  Ijrig  Mariner,  laden 
with  rum,  sugar,  etc.,  valued  at  $70,000;  ordered  her 
for  France. — Arrived  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  Aug.  19th. 

The  Yankee  had  not  a  man  killed  oi'  wounded  during 
her  cruise. 


PRIZES  CAFrURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Bark  Henrietta,  sent  into  Beaufort,  N.  C,  by  the 
Siiap-Dragon,  of  Newborn. 

Brig  Ann ,   with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  worth 

$500,000,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon,  and  the  most 
valuable  part  of  the  cargo  taken  on  board  the  privateer, 
which  vessel  safely  arrived  at  Newport. 

The  Saucy  Jack  arrived  at  St.  Mary's  from  her  third 
cruise.  She  captured  the  schooner  Two  Sisters,  laden  with 
Hour  and  fish  ;  ship  Eliza,  of  10  guns,  with  Hour,  beef,  etc. 
Oil  the  17th  July,  fell  in  with  the  ship  Louisa,  and  brig 
Throe  Brothers,  of  10  guns  each,  and  captured  them 
both  without  loss.  The  Saucy  Jack  also  took  and  gave 
up  some  small  vessels.     She  was  the  cause  of  the  loss  of 


128 


THE    AMERICAN    miVATEEIlS. 


[1813. 


the  enemy's  sloop-of-war  Persian,  which  was  wrecked 
on  the  Silver  Keys,  June  29th,  while  in  chase  of  this 
famous  little  privateer. 


BEAVE  DEFENCE  OP  THE   LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  LOTTERY, 
IN  THE  CHJ^SAI'EAKE  BAY. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Lottery,  of  Baltimore, 
with  6  guns  and  35  men,  on  the  15th  of  February,  1813, 
while  at  anchor  in  Chesapeake  Bay  (being  outward 
bound),  was  captured  by  nine  British  barges,  containing 
240  men  ;  after  fighting  them  off  for  an  hour  and  a  half, 
it  was  supposed  that  more  Englishmen  were  killed  and 
wounded  than  the  whole  crew  of  the  letter-of-marque. 
Captain  Southcomb  of  the  Lottery,  being  badly  wounded, 
the  enemy  boarded  the  schooner,  and  pulled  down  the 
colors  themselves. 


INTERESTING  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  DOLPHIN,  CAPT. 
W.  S.  STAFFORD,  AND  THE  ENGLISH  SHIP  HE6E,  AND  AVITH  HF^ 
CONSORT  THE BRIG,  FROM  MALTA,  OFF  CAPE  ST.  VINCENT. 

Captain  Stafford  had  been  for  some  days  cruising  off 
the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  when  off  Cape  St. 
Vincent,  on  the  25th  of  Januar}^  1813,  he  fell  in  with 
a  large  ship  and  a  brig,  and  gallantly  engaged  them  both. 
The  combat  was  sustained  with  considerable  spirit  until 
the  captain  of  the  Hebe  and  eight  men  being  wounded, 
they  both  struck  their  colors,  and  were  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

The  privateer  lost  but  four  men  in  this  gallant  affair. 
The  force  of  the  Dolphin  was  ten  guns  and  sixty 
men. 

The  Hebe  carried  16  guns  and  forty  men,  the  brig  10 
guns  and  25  men  ;  making  together  twenty-six  guns 


[1813. 

jcked 
f  this 


[TERY, 


nore, 
1813, 
tward 
lining 
ii  half, 
d  and 
irquc. 
mded, 
n  the 


,  CAPT. 
rH  HER 
NCENT. 

.ngoff 
ipe  St. 
1  with 
1  both, 
t  until 
Anded, 
or  the 


affair. 

sixty 


)rig  10 
K.  guns 


isirj.] 


«^^ 


and  H 


1S13.] 


Till:    AMKIilCAN    riilVATKKUS. 


129 


iind  sixty-five  men.  They  were  botli  richly  laden,  and 
were  very  valuable  prizea. 

The  I)()li)hin  then  proceeded  homeward.  She  pas.sed 
(jirough  the  Jh'itish  sciuadron  in  the  Chesupeiike  l'»ay, 
and  arrived  safe  at  Baltimore,  on  the  LOlh  of  Fehruarv. 
id'ler  a  very  fortunate  cruise.  The  captain  of  the  British 
shij),  smarting  from  his  wounds,  said  "  he  did  not  exj)ect 

1()  find  a  d d  Yankee  privateer  in  that  part  of  the 

world,"  but  was  given  to  understand  that,  by-and-by, 
captures  might  be  made  in  the  Thames  ;  at  which  hi» 
wondered  greatly ! 

The  following  is  honorable  to  all  parties  concerned  in 
it — we  should  be  glad  to  sec  such  things  from  the  oilier 
side  of  the  water. 

A  CAIM). 

"  W.  A.  Brigham,  lately  captured  in  the  British  mor- 
cliunt  ship  Ilebe  late  under  his  connnand,  by  the  United 
States  privateer  Dolphin,  Captain  W.  S.  Stad'ord,  after 
a  severe  contest,  begs  to  make  public,  and  gratefully  ac- 
knowledge the  sense  he  has  of  the  very  kind  and  hu- 
mane treatment  he  and  his  crew  experienced  on  board 
the  Dolphin,  during  a  passage  of  five  v/eeks,  from  the 
time  of  capture  till  our  arrival  at  this  port.  All  wear- 
ing apparel  and  private  property  were  given  up  to 
the  prisoners,  and  the  wounded  (eight  in  nundjcr),  most 
diligently  and  tenderly  attended.  W.  A.  Brigham  being 
Ladly  wounded  by  a  musket-shot,  and  much  burnt,  ex- 
perienced a  very  great  share  of  this  attention  from  Dr. 
Chidester,  the  surgeon,  which,  together  with  the  tender 
sympathy  and  goodness  of  Captain  Stafford,  added  much 
to  his  recovery  and  happiness.  Should  the  fortune  of 
war  ever  throw  Captain  Stafford,  or  any  of  his  crew  into 
the  hands  of  the  British,  it  is  sincerely  hoped  he  will 
iiieot  a  similar  treatment." 

Dalliinore,  Fel.  WJi,  1813, 

9 


ir>o 


Till':  ami:kican  ruiVATKKUS. 


[Ibl3. 


Tlu!  writer  of  tliosc  pa<^oa  was  personally  ao(|Maii)t- 
cd  with  Caittaiii  W.  S.  SlafTord,  when  at  l^)r(l('aiix, 
in  the  year  1814.  And  it  is  with  pleasure,  ho  adds, 
that  \\c  always  t'ouml  him  a  ni()d(!st,  unassMniin;^-,  gcii- 
tleniunly  man  ;  no  one  can,  for  a  moment,  donht  his 
unfiinciiin^  bravery  an<l  gallant  hearing,  when  he  ro- 
(leets  on  the  many  battles  he  has  gained  over  the 
enemi(>s  of  his  country.  To  be  convinced  that  Oiiptaiii 
Stadbrd  was  generous,  kind,  and  humane,  the  I'oader 
has  oidy  to  rel'i^r  to  the  fact  of  Captain  W.  A.  IJrigham's 
voluntary  certilicate,  after  his  cai)ture,  and  during  the 
time  ho  was  a  ]»risoner  onboard  the  I)oli)hin. 

When  the  writer  of  the  following  article  calls  to  mind 
the  spirit  and  acts  of  the  lialtimoiu^ans  during  our  last 
war  with  Englaufl,  he  inspired  with  a  feeling  of  esteem 
aud  veneration  for  them,  as  a  brave  and  patriotic  peoj)le, 
that  will  endure  with  him  to  the  end  of  his  existence. 

During  the  whole  struggle  against  an  inveterate  foe, 
they  did  all  they  could  to  aid  and  strengthen  the  hands 
of  the  genci'al  government,  and  generally  took  the  lead 
in  fitting  out  cfTicient  privateers  and  letters-of-marquo 
to  annoy  and  distress  the  enemy,  and  even  to  "  beard 
the  old  lion  in  his  den,"  for  it  is  well  known  that  their 
privatoei's  captured  many  English  vessels  at  the  very 
mouths  of  their  own  ports  in  the  British  channel. 

When  their  own  beautiful  city  was  attacked  by  a 
powerful  fleet  and  army,  how  nobly  did  they  defend 
themselves  against  the  hand  of  the  spoiler!  The  whole 
venom  of  the  modern  Goths  seemed  concentrated  against 
the  Raltimoreans,  for  no  other  reason  but  that  they  had 
too  nuich  spirit  to  submit  to  insult  and  tyrannical  op- 
pression. Many  of  the  eastern  pcoj)le  made  a  grand 
mistake  in  counting  on  the  magnanimity  of  the  British 
nation  to  do  them  justice  by  mild  and  persuasive  argu- 


1813.] 

mcnt{ 
Idoi 
other 
that  il 
the  M; 
tire  cf 
nnich 
have  8 
wo  we 
their  i 
8ons,  c 
human 
ship   b 
Tory,  f 
sncli  a 
therefo 
own    y 
whatev 
they  lu 
more  m 
have  n( 
they  no 
now,  or 
Black  ^ 
Shou 
not  per 
at  Ham 
Talk  no 
with  th( 
tue  of 
the  arist 
man's  h 
more  shi 
and  whe 


1813.] 


THE    AMEniCAN    TRIVATEKna. 


131 


mcnts.  In  making  these  remarks  in  i»niiso  of  lialtimoro, 
I  do  not  mean  lo  dispara^^e  the  noble  patriotism  of  many 
oilier  cities  of  our  }i;lorious  T^nion,  but  \  do  mean  to  say, 
that  if  the  same  spirit  that  fired  the  hearts  and  souls  of 
the  I^illimoreans,  had  evineed  itself  thron<:;hont  our  en- 
tire country,  it  would  have  saved  every  Ameriean  heart 
much  pain  and  moi-tification,  and  would,  in  my  opinion, 
have  shortened  the  war.  For  while  the  English  believed 
wo  were  a  divided  people,  they  were  slow  to  relinquish 
their  unreasonable  demands.  With  these  obvious  rea- 
sons, can  any  one  po.'isesscd  of  the  least  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  believe  there  can  ever  be  any  real  friend- 
ship between  an  English  Aristocrat,  a  lligh-C^hurch 
Tory,  and  an  Ameriean  Republican  ;  the  very  idea  of 
such  a  friendship  is  preposterous  to  tlie  last  degree.  It 
therefore  follows,  that  we  have  oidy  to  rely  upon  our 
own  strength  and  union,  to  repel  aggression  from 
whatever  quarter  it  may  come.  Wouhl  the  English,  if 
they  had  succeeded  in  taking  Baltimore,  liave  sliown 
more  mercy  in  sparing  it  than  they  did  Washington?  I 
have  no  patience  with  such  fiillacious  reasoning.  Arc 
they  not  the  same  jjooplo,  and  playing  the  same  game 
now,  on  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  and  in  the  White  and 
Black  Seas? 

Should  wo  have  another  war  with  them,  would  they 
not  perform  the  same  unnatural  acts  as  were  perpetrated 
at  Hampton,  in  1813,  if  they  had  the  power  to  do  it? 
Talk  not  of  British  magnanimity  to  any  one  acquainted 
with  their  history  ;  were  it  not  for  the  religion  and  vir- 
tue of  the  middle  classes  hi  England,  "the  hands  of 
the  aristocracy  would  be  against  every  man,  and  every 
man's  hand  against  them."  Tlie  writer  was  in  Balti- 
more shortly  after  the  English  retreated  from  that  place, 
and  when  he  saw  the  Ameriean  flag,  with  its  beautiful 


132 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


L1813. 


stars  and  stripes,  wave  gracefully  in  the  breeze  on  Fort 
McHcnry,  the  impression  made  upon  his  mind  was  in- 
delible. He  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  feeling,  it 
being  much  better  expressed  in  Key's  immortal  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner." 


INTERESTING  CRUISE  OF  THE  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  IN  TITE 
PllIVATEER-SCHOONER  COMET,  ON  THE  COAST  OF  BRAZIL,  AND 
AMONG  THF  WEST  INDIA  It:L.ANDS. 

Captain  Boyle  left  Baltimore  in  Dec.  1812,  and  on  a 
dark,  stormy  night  passed  through  the  midst  of  the  Brit- 
ish blockading  £,  ^uaJron,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ches- 
apeake, After  getting  to  sea,  Capt.  Boyle  proceeded  to 
the  coast  of  Brazil,  without  meeting  with  any  remark- 
able incidoi.t  until  he  arrived  off  Pernamtaco,  on  tlie 
9th  of  January,  1813.  At  this  point  his  Journal  pro- 
ceeds as  follows  :  "  On  this  day  I  spoke  a  coaster  from 
Pernambuco,  who  informed  me  of  some  English  vessels 
who  v/cre  to  sail  in  a  few  days  from  that  place.  On  the 
11th,  spoke  the  Portuguese  brig  Wasa,  from  St.  Michael's 
for  Pernambuco.  14th,  at  1  p.  m.,  discovered  four  sail 
standing  out  of  the  harbor — laid-by  to  give  them  an  op- 
portunity to  got  offshore,  and  Jien  to  cut  them  off;  at 
3  p.  M.,  they  were  upon  the  wind,  standing  S.E.,  and 
about  six  leagues  from  the  land ;  bore  up  and  made  all 
sail  in  chase ;  at  5,  we  were  coming  up  with  them  very 
fast ;  at  G,  discovered  one  of  them  to  be  a  ^^ery  large  man- 
of-war  brig  ;  called  all  hands  to  quarters  ;  loaded  all  the 
guns  with  round  and  grape ;  cleared  the  decks,  and  got 
all  read}^  for  action.  At.  7  p.  m.,  close  to  the  chase, 
hoisted  our  colors,  and  sheered  clot-e  up  to  the  man-of- 
war  brig,  who  had  also  hoisted  her  colors.  The  captain 
hailed  us,  and  said  he  would  send  his  boat  on  board;  ac- 
cordingly I  hove  to  and  received  it.  The  officer  informed 


t:l 


1813.] 


THE    AMKIIICAN    rillVATEERS. 


133 


me  that  the  brig  was  a  Portuguese  national  vessel, 
mounting  20  32's,  and  105  men;  that  the  three  others 
were  EngUsh,  for  Europe,  under  his  protection,  and  that 
I  must  not  molest  them.  I  informed  him  that  I  was  an 
American  cruiser,  and  insisted  on  h's  seeing  my  autlior- 
ity  to  capture  English  vessels,  which  he  did.  I  then  in- 
formed him  T  would  capture  those  vessels  if  I  could;  that 
we  were  upon  the  high  seas,  the  common  highway  of  all 
nations  ;  that  he  had  no  right  to  protect  them.  That  the 
high  seas,  of  right,  belonged  to  America  as  much  as  any 
other  power  in  the  world  ;  «nd,  that  at  all  events  (under 
those  considerations),  I  was  determii  od  to  exercise  the 
authority  I  possessed.  He  said  he  shoi'd  be  sorry  if 
anything  disagreeable  took  place  ;  that  he  was  ordered 
to  protect  them,  and  should  do  so.  I  answered  him,  that 
I  shoulc'  feel  equal  regret  that  anything  disagreeable 
should  occur  ;  that  if  it  did,  he  would  be  the  aggressor, 
as  I  did  not  intend  to  fire  on  him  first.  That  if  he  did 
attempt  to  oppose  me,  or  fire  on  me  when  trying  to  take 
these  English  vessels,  wc  must  try  our  respective  strength, 
as  I  was  well  prepared  for  such  an  event,  and  should  not 
shrink  from  it.  He  then  informed  me  those  vessels 
were  well  armed,  and  very  strong,  i  told  him  I  valued 
their  strength  but  little,  and  should  very  soon  put  it  to 
the  test.  He  then  left  me  to  go  on  board  the  man-of- 
war  brig,  to  communicate  our  conversation  to  his  cap- 
tain, with  a  promise  of  again  returning,  which,  however, 
he  did  not  do.  Finding  he  did  not  mean  to  return,  I 
spoke  the  man-of-war  immediately,  and  asked  him  if  he 
intended  sending  his  boat  back  ;  he  said  he  would  speak 
to  his  convoy,  and  requested  me  to  send  my  boat  on 
board.  Entertaining  some  suspicion  of  his  motives  for 
thus  asking  for  my  boat,  I  told  him  that  I  did  not  make 
a  practice  of  sending  my  boat  from  my  vessel  in  the  night, 


134 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


and  should  not  now  do  it.  I  then  agahi  told  him  of  my 
detcrminiition  very  distinctly,  so  that  he  should  not  mis- 
understand me.  The  English  vessels  were  ahead  of  us, 
consisting  of  a  ship  of  14  guns,  and  two  brigs  of  10  guns 
each,  making  in  all  a  force  of  54  guns !  I  made  sail  im- 
mediately for  them,  came  up  with  the  ship  (the  three, 
in  fact,  were  close  together),  hailed  her,  and  ordered  them 
to  back  the  main  top-sail ;  he  gave  little  or  no  answer. 
Having  quick  way  at  the  time,  I  shot  ahead,  but  told  him 
I  should  be  alongside  again  in  a  few  minutes  ;  and  if  he 
did  not  obey  my  orders,  I  would  pour  a  broadside  into 
him.  After  a  few  minutes  I  tacked,  the  man-of-war 
close  after  me  ;  this  was  about  half  past  8,  r.  m.  I  then 
ran  alongside  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being  close  to 
her,  and  opened  my  broadside  upon  them  both  ;  we  were 
all  carrying  a  crowd  of  canvas,  and  I  was,  from  superior 
sailing,  frequently  obliged  to  tack,  and  should  have  pro- 
fited much  by  it,  had  not  the  man-of-war  been  so  close, 
who  now  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us,  with  round  and 
grape,  which  we  returned.  Having  now  the  whole  force 
to  contend  with,  I  stuck  as  close  as  possible  to  the  Eng- 
lish vessels,  they  frequently  separating  to  give  the  man- 
of-war  a  eliance,  and  I,  as  frequently,  poured  whole 
broadsides  into  them,  and  at  times,  into  the  man-of-war. 
About  1,  r.  M.,  the  ship  surrendered,  '  eing  all  cut  to 
pieces,  and  rendered  unmanageable.  Directly  after,  the 
brig  Bowes  surrendered,  she  being  very  much  disabled. 
I  then  proceeded  to  take  possession  of  her,  and,  as  the 
boat  was  passing,  the  man-of-war  gave  us  a  broadside, 
and  was  near  sinking  the  boat,  which  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn. I  then  renewed  the  action  with  the  man-of-war, 
who  sheered  off  at  some  distance  ;  I  followed  a  little,  and 
then  made  the  third  vessel  surrender,  she  being  also  cut 
to  pieces.     I  was  now  proceeding  to  take  possession  of 


1313.] 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


135 


the  Bowes  again,  when  I  spoke  the  ship,  the  captain  of 
which  I  ordered  to  follow  me,  who  informed  me  his  ship 
was  in  a  sinking  condition,  having  many  shot-holes  be- 
tween wind  and  water,  and  not  a  rope  but  what  was  cut 
away  ;  but  for  his  own  safety,  he  would,  if  possible,  fol- 
low my  orders.  At  half  past  1,  p.  m.,  took  possession  of 
tlie  Bowes,  and  manned  her.  The  man-of-war  brig, 
however,  continued  to  interfere  with  my  iaking  posses- 
sion of  the  three  English  prizes,  so  tl  at  I  was  occasionally 
obliged  to  exchange  broadsides  with  him.  After  tliis,  the 
man-of-war  fired  a  broadside  into  the  prize,  and  pass- 
ed her.  The  moon  wa«  now  down,  and  it  became  quite 
dark  ond  squally,  which  caused  us  to  separate  from  our 
prizes.  At  2  A.  M.,  he  stood  to  the  south;  it  being  quite 
dark,  we  were  out  of  sight  of  the  brig  and  ship,  whidi 
were  in  a  southern  direction.  I  now  thought  it  prudent 
to  take  care  of  the  prize  till  daylight,  the  Captain  of 
which  informed  me  that  the  ship  and  the  other  brig  were 
loaded  with  wheat.  At  daylight,  we  wore  close  to  the 
prize,  the  man-of-war  standing  for  us.  I  inmiediately 
hove  about,  and  stood  for  hira,  or  rather  for  the  ship  and 
brig  ;  he  tacked  likewise,  and  made  signals  for  the  con- 
voy to  make  the  first  port.  Considering  the  situation  of 
the  ship  and  brig,  I  determined  not  to  take  possession 
of  them,  but  to  watch  their  manoeuvres.  They  both 
bore  up  before  the  wind,  for  the  land,  in  company  with 
the  man-of-war,  which  appeared  also  much  damaged.  I 
followed  for  some  time,  taking  particular  notice  of  them. 
It  appeared  to  me  that  great  exertions  were  made  to 
keep  the  ship  from  sinking,  which,  with  the  brig,  settled 
in  the  water. 

The  man-of-war  appeared  occasionally  to  render  them 
assistance  ;  the  ship  was  called  the  George,  of  Liverpool, 
Captain  Wilson,  and  the  brig  the  Gambia,  of  Hull,  Cap- 


136 


TIIK    A.MKIIICAN    PUIVATEKUS. 


11813. 


tiiin  Rniitli.  At  10  a.m.,  went  in  pursuit  of  the  Bowes, 
and  at  meridian  spoke  her.  I  have  since  learned  from 
several  vessels  which  I  boarded  from  Pernamhuco,  that 
the  man-of-war  brig'"  was  damaged  very  much,  besides 
having  her  first  Lieutenant  and  five  men  killed,  and  a 
number  wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  the  Captain, 
who  had  his  thigh  shot  off,  and  has  since  died  of  his 
wounds.  The  ship's  masts  scarcely  lasted  to  carry  her 
to  Pernambuco  ;  her  cargo  was  nearly  all  damaged  ;  she 
was  dismantled,  and  obliged  to  get  new  top-sides.  The 
brig  was  nearly  in  the  same  situation,  the  greater  part 
of  her  cargo  being  damaged,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
they  kept  her  from  sinking,  before  they  reached  Pcr- 
nambi.co  harbor. 

Soon  after  the  light  and  capture  of  the  three  British 
vessels,  the  gallant  Boyle  fell  in  with,  and  took  the 
Scotch  ship  Adelphi,  belonging  to  Aberdeen.  She  was 
from  Liverpool  bound  for  Bahin,  of  3G1  tons,  mounting 
8  long  twelve-pounders,  laden  with  salt  and  dry -goods; 
manned  her,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  the  United  States. 
He  was  subsoquentty  chased  by  the  famous  British  fri- 
gate Surprise,  which  he  easily  out-sailed,  and  continued 
on  his  cruise  down  among  the  West  India  Islands. 

On  the  Gth  of  Feb.,  at  daylight,  being  off  the  Island 
of  St.  Johns,  distant  two  leagues,  he  discovered  two 
brigs  to  leeward,  when  he  made  all  sail  in  chase  of  them; 
called  all  hands  to  quarters  ;  soon  made  out  the  nearest 
brig  to  be  armed.     At  6  a.  m.  she  hoisted  English  colors, 

*  Some  three  or  four  months  after  Captain  Boyle's  engagement  with  this 
fleet,  the  Portuguese  man-of-war  brig  here  alluded  to,  arrived  at  Lisbon.  The 
author  of  this  book  being  there  at  the  time,  had  the  curiosity  to  examine  her, 
in  company  with  his  friend  Richard  M.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  and 
several  other  American  gentlemen.  We  found  her  a  very  large  vessel,  with 
high  bulwarks,  a  very  formidable  battery,  and  to  all  appearance  big  enough 
to  hoist  the  Comet  on  her  decks. 


i)rig 
from 
thoy 
j-nra. 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATKEUS. 


IX 


firod  a  gun  and  then  struck  her  flag  j  took  possession  of 
her.  She  proved  to  be  the  Aloxis,  of  Greenock,  from 
Deniarara,  loaded  with  sugar,  rum,  cotton,  and  colTee, 
mounthig  10  guns  ;  sent  Mr.  l^all  and  six  men  on  board, 
to  take  her  to  the  United  Stat<>s,  and  then  made  sail 
after  the  other.  At  eight  a.  m.,  discovered  a  man-of-war 
brig  upon  the  wind,  standing  to  the  S.E.,  apjjarcntl}' 
from  St.  Thomas ;  ascertained  i'rom  the  prisoners  that 
they  were  a  part  of  a  convoy  of  i;ine  sail  from  Denia- 
rara, bound  for  St.  Thomas  ;  that  the  most  of  them  had 
got  in  during  the  night,  and  that  the  man-of-war  brig 
then  in  sight  had  convoyed  them,  and  that  she  was  called 
tlic  Swaggerer.  At  9  a.m.  hoisted  his  colors,  and  pre- 
pared to  give  the  brig  he  was  then  in  chase  of,  a  broad- 
side, when  she  set  English  colors,  and  gave  the  Comet 
her  whole  broadside  of  great  guns,  which  was  instantly 
returned,  when  down  came  her  colors.  After  she  had 
struck  they  cut  away  her  topsail  and  jib-haulyards,  etc., 
etc.,  in  addition  to  the  damage  the  Comet  had  done  by 
her  shot,  which  was  very  considerable  ;  sent  Mr.  Cashell, 
first  Lieutenant,  and  several  men,  on  board,  to  repair 
the  rigging  as  quick  as  possible  ;  took  out  most  of  the 
prisoners,  and  sent  Mr.  Gilpin,  prizemaster,  with  seven 
men,  to  relieve  Mr.  Cashell  ;  the  brig  by  this  time  had 
made  sail  and  filled  away  in  company  with  the  Comet. 
The  man-of-war  by  this  time  had  gained  very  much 
upon  them,  he  therefore  thought  it  prudent  to  make  no 
delay,  but  to  order  Mr.  Cashell  to  make  the  best  of  his 
way  through  the  passage  between  St.  Johns  and  St. 
Thomas,  as  the  only  possible  way  of  saving  the  prize 
brig  from  recapture.  In  the  mean  time  Capt.  Boyle, 
with  the  Comet,  played  about  the  man-of-war  brig,  to  di- 
vert his  attention  until  the  prizes  had  time  to  make 
their  escape.     The  last  brig  captured  was  the  Dominica 


138 


THE   AMEHICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[181J. 


packet,  of  Liverpool,  from  Dcmarara  bound  for  St. 
Thomas,  laden  with  rum,  sugar,  cotton,  and  coflbe, 
mounting  ten  guns.  Captain  B.  then  liove  to  and  gave 
the  man-of-war  brig  time  to  approach  the  Comet,  which 
he  did  to  within  long  gun-shot ;  Capt.  Boyle  soon  found 
he  could  out-sail  his  opponent  with  ease,  and  was  able 
to  tantalise  and  perplex  him,  and  in  this  way  he  de- 
tained him  until  his  prizes  had  made  their  escape  through 
the  passage.  lie  kept  him  in  play  in  this  manner  until 
noon,  when  he  found  Mr.  C.  had  got  through  the  passage. 
He  had  ordered  him  to  steer  to  the  northward,  and  de- 
cided he  would  follow  him  as  soon  as  possible.  He  then 
made  all  sail  upon  the  wind  to  go  around  to  the  wind- 
ward of  St.  Johns,  the  Swaggerer  in  full  chase.  At  two 
p.  M.  he  had  so  out-sailed  his  adversary,  that  he  was  at 
least  four  miles  to  leeward.  At  this  time  he  discovered 
a  sail  on  the  weather  bow,  and  soon  after  made  her  out 
to  be  a  schooner  running  before  the  wind.  At  3  r.  m., 
being  near  her,  fired  several  muskets  at  her  when  she 
hove  to.  Put  Mr.  Wild,  prize-master,  and  six  men  on 
board,  took  out  the  prisoners,  and  ordered  him  through 
the  passage  between  Tortola  and  St.  Johns,  and  from 
thence  to  the  United  States.  She  proved  to  be  the 
schooner  Jane,  from  Demarara  for  St.  Thomas,  loaded 
with  rum,  sugar,  and  coffee.  The  Swaggerer  still  in 
chase,  though  very  far  to  leeward. 

It  appears  that  soon  after  the  capture  of  these  prizes, 
Capt.  Boyle  made  the  best  of  his  way  home,  and  returned 
safe  to  Baltimore  after  this  successful  cruise,  on  the  17th 
March,  passing  through  the  British  blockading  squadron, 
bidding  defiance  to  their  vigilance  and  numbers. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  this  successful  cruise, 
we  find  the  ever-active  and  gallant  Boyle  again  on  the 
broad  ocean  in  command  of  the  elegant  and  formidable 


1813.] 


TIIK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


139 


privatocr-Lrig  Chasseur,  always  annoying  the  enemy, 
vvliorover  he  chanced  to  steer  ;  sometimes  on  the  coasts 
of  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  anon  in  the  British  and  Irish 
Channels,  carrying  dismay  and  terror  to  British  trade 
and  commerce,  in  defiance  of  their  fleetest  frigates  and 
sloops-of-war,  who  strove  again  and  again  to  capture 
him,  but  were  never  able,  lie  appeared  frequently  to 
tantalise  and  vex  them,  as  if  for  mere  sport,  and  at  the 
same  time  convince  them,  that  he  could  out-manoouvre 
and  out-sail  them,  in  any  trial  of  seamanship  or  skill. 

It  must  have  been  a  fine  sight  to  sec  him  handle  his 
beautiful  vessel,  and  to  a  nautical  man,  highly  exciting, 
to  have  witnessed  his  famous  escape  in  the  British  Chan- 
nel, when  nearly  surrounded  by  two  frigates  and  two 
brigs  of  war,  as  recorded  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  this 
work. 

Ho  received  the  fire  of  one  of  the  frigates  and  skil- 
fully hauled  out  from  among  them,  and  made  good  his 
retreat. 


CHAPTJ^R    V. 

(JAl'TAIN  mrAI.ER'H  raCAI'E  IN  TIIK  PRIVATK.KIl  UOVKUNOU  TOMITCrNS  FROM  A  nillTIHn 
FIlinATK  TIIR  riMVATKKIl.S  YANKKK  AM»  ni.()CKAr)K  HAII,  KltOM  NKWroilT  (If)  TIIK 
1st  of  .ILXK,  181U  IIUITIHH  IMUCY  of  taking  NKW  OIIU'.AXS  SriKHIXKIt  FI.YINO- 
FISIITAKKN  UY  TIIK  HAUCV  JACK — liniTISII  SIIII' IXItl'STUY  HUNT  INTO  IIKItOKN,  NORWAY, 
IlYT»KTKrK-UI,OOI)KI>  YAXKIX-  IIRITISII  SIMP  I/lXDO.,  I'Af'KCT  CArTnir.K  IIY  TIIK  AIMJUH 
AND  SKXT  IXTO  llOSTON  — IIRITISH  I'AOKCT  MOIUIIANNA,  CAI'TlllKI)  IIY  IIOAIIDIXO,  |)Y 
TIIK  HARATOdA — FIITKKX  IlllITISH  VJWSKIJJ  CAITIIIKI)  OFF  JAMAICA,  IIY  THE  KOVKI.y 
OORI)KI,IA,OFrHARr,mTOX — TIIK  YANKKK  nilVATKXU  RKTIMIXS  TO  RIIODK  ISI,AM)  AITKIl 

A  succiMsmr,  orimsk  -taiilk  of  i'uivatkkrs  i)Ei,oxaix(j  to  sai,km  -cai-tain  stak- 

FORD'S  FAMOrS  I)KF1-U\CK  OF  THK  I'RIVATKER  DOI.I'IIIJJ — ARRIVAL  OF  TIIK  I'HIVATKKIl 
ORAMI'l'S  AT  NKW  YORK  -  NARROW  mCAI'K  OF  THIS  VKrfSKL,  WHII.K  CIUISIN;! 
AMONG  TIIK  CANARY  ISLANDS — KlILOilY  ON  CAITAIN  JOHN  MUHPIIY — nKSI'r.IIATK 
ENOAGFJUFAT  BKrWKHN  TIIR  PRIVATEER  GUmG,  OAITAIN  RICHARD  MOON,  WITH  TWO 
ENGLISH  HRIOS,  OFF  MADEIRA — IIRITISH  SHIP  NEREID  CAPTURED  OFF  MADEIRA  IIY  TIIK 
GOVERNOR  TOMPKINS— INTERESTlUa  CRUISB  OF  TUB  FAMOUS  CAPTAIN  UOYLB  IN  TIIK 
SCHOONER  COMET. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LE'l'TER  FROM  NATHANIEL  SHALER,  COMMANDER 
OF  THE  PRIVATE  ARAfED  SCHOONER  "GOVERNOR  TOMI'KINS," 
TO  HIS  AGENT  IN  NEW  YORK.— DATED  AT  SEA,  JAN.  1st,  1813. 

Two  days  after  dispatching  the  Nereid,  I  took  a 
whaleman  from  London,  bound  for  the  South  Seas,  but 
as  she  was  of  no  vakie,  I  took  out  such  stores,  etc.,  as  I 
could  stow,  and  being  much  lumbered  with  prisoners  and 
baggage,  I  put  them  on  board,  and  ordered  her  for  Fal- 
mouth. The  chasing  of  this  ship  had  taken  me  some 
distance  from  my  ground,  and  owing  to  calms,  I  could 
not  regain  it  until  the  25th  ult.,  when  at  sunrise  three 
ships  were  discovered  ahead.  We  made  all  sail  in  chase. 
The  wind  being  light,  we  came  up  with  them  slowly.  On 
a  nearer  approach,  they  proved  to  be  two  ships  and  a  brig. 
One  of  the  ships  had  all  the  appearance  of  a  large  trans- 
port, and  from  their  manoeuvres,  seemed  to  have  concerted 
measures  for  mutual  defence.     The  large  ship  appeared 

am 


1813.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    PRIVATEKKS. 


141 


to  take  tlie  bulk  of  an  action.  IJoats  were  seen  passing 
to  and  from  her.  She  had  boarding  nettings  ahnost  up 
to  her  tops,  witli  her  topmast  studding-sail  booms  out, 
and  sails  at  their  ends,  ready  for  running,  as  if  pre[)artMl 
for  a  runaway  fight. 

Ilcr  ports  appeared  to  be  painted,  and  she  had  some- 
thing on  deck,  resembling  a  merchant's  boat.  After  all 
this  what  the  devil  do  you  think  she  was  ?  why,  have  a 
little  patience,  and  I  will  tell  you.  At  3  r.  m.  a  sudden 
squall  struck  us  from  the  northward,  and  the  ship  not 
having  yet  received  it,  before  I  could  get  our  light  sails 
in,  and  almost  before  I  could  turn  round,  I  was  under  the 
guns,  (not  of  a  transport)  but  of  a  large  frigate !  and  not 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  her. 

I  innnediately  hauled  down  ]']nglish  ccdors,  which!  pre- 
viously had  up,  set  three  American  ensigns,  trimmed  our 
sails  by  the  wind,  and  commenced  a  brisk  (ire  from  our 
little  battery,  but  this  Avas  returned  with  woful  interest. 
Her  first  broadside  killed  two  men  and  wounded  six 
others — (two  of  them  severely,  one  has  since  died) — it 
also  blew  up  one  of  my  salt-boxes,  with  two  nine-pound 
cartridges  ;  this  communicated  fire  to  a  niunber  of  pis- 
tols and  three  tube  boxes  which  were  lying  on  the  com- 
panion way,  all  of  which  exploded,  and  some  of  the 
tubes  penetrated  through  a  crevice  under  the  companion 
leaf,  and  found  their  way  to  the  cabin  floor,  but  that 
being  wet,  and  the  fire-screen  being  up,  no  further  ac- 
cident took  place.  This,  together  with  the  fire  from  the 
frigate,  I  assure  you,  made  warm  work  on  the  Tomp- 
kin's  quarter-deck,  but  thanks  to  her  heels,  and  the  ex- 
ertions of  my  brave  oflBcers  and  crew,  I  still  have  the 
command  of  her. 

When  the  frigate  opened  her  fire  on  me,  it  was  about 
half-past  three.     I  was  then  a  little  abaft  her  beam.    To 


142 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    rUlVATEEUS. 


[1813. 


have  attempted  to  tack  in  a  liard  squall,  would  at  least 
have  exj)Osed  me  to  a  raking  (ire,  and  to  have  attempted 
it,  and  failed  to  do  >so,  would  have  been  attended  with 
the  inevitaldc  loss  of  the  schooner.  I  therefore  thought 
it  most  prudent  to  take  her  (ire  on  the  tack  on  which  I 
was,  and  this  I  was  exposed  to  from  the  position  I  have 
mentioned,  until  I  had  passed  her  bow  ;  she  all  the 
while  standing  on  with  me,  and  almost  as  fast  as  our- 
selves, and  such  a  tune  as  was  played  round  my  eais,  f 
assure  you,  I  never  wish  to  hear  again  on  the  same  key. 
At  four  his  shot  began  to  fall  short  of  us.  At  half-past 
four  the  wind  dying  away,  and  the  enemy  still  holding 
it,  his  shi})  began  to  reach  us.  We  got  out  sweeps,  and 
turned  all  hands  to.  I  also  threw  all  the  lumber  from 
the  deck,  and  about  2,000  lbs.  weight  of  shot  from 
the  after  hold.  From  about  five  r.  M.,  all  his  shot  fell 
short  of  us.  At  twenty-five  minutes  past  five  the  enemy 
hove  about,  and  I  was  glad  to  get  so  clear  of  one  of  the 
most  quarrelsome  companions  that  I  ever  met  with. 
After  the  first  broadside  from  the  frigate,  not  a  shot 
struck  the  hull  of  the  Tompkins,  but  the  water  was  hter- 
ally  in  a  foam  all  around  her. 

The  moment  before  the  squall  struck  us,  I  told  Mr. 
Farnum  that  she  was  too  heavy  for  us,  and  he  went  for- 
ward with  his  glass  to  take  another  look,  when  the 
squall  struck  the  schooner  as  if  by  magic,  and  we  were 
up  with  her,  before  we  could  get  in  our  fight  sails.  My 
officers  conducted  themselves  in  a  way  that  would  have 
done  honor  to  a  more  permanent  service.  Mr.  Farnum, 
first  Lieutenant,  conducted  himself  with  his  usual  vigor. 
Mr.  Atchison,  sailing-master,  performed  his  part  in  the 
style  of  a  brave  and  accomplished  seaman.  Messrs  Mil- 
ler and  Dodd,  second  and  third  Lieutenants,  were  not 
immediately  under  my  eye,  but  the  precision  and  prompt- 


1813.] 


THR     AMKIIICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


143 


itiulc  witli  \vlii(;h  all  my  ortlora  were  executed,  is  suni- 
ciont  [)ro()t'  tliat  tlioy  were  to  bo  relied  upon.  Mr. 
TlioiuMs,  boatswain,  and  Mr.  Casewcll,  inaster'.s-inate, 
were  particularly  active,  and  deserve  eneoura;^enient. 
The  name  ofone  of  my  poor  fellows  wlio  wa.s  killed  ought 
to  be  regi.stered  on  the  book  of  fame,  and  remembered 
with  reverence  as  long  as  braveiy  is  considered  a  virtue. 
He  was  a  black  man,  by  the  name  of  John  Johnson  ;  a 
24  lb.  shot  struck  him  iu  the  hip,  and  took  away  all  the 
lower  part  of  his  body.  In  this  state  the  poor,  brave  fel- 
low lay  on  the  de(jk,  and  several  times  exclaimed  to  liis 
shipmates,  "  lire  away  boys,  neber  haul  de  color  down." 
The  other  was  also  a  black  man,  by  the  name  of  John 
Davis,  and  was  struck  in  much  the  same  way  :  he  fell 
near  me,  and  several  times  requested  to  be  thrown  over- 
board, saying  he  was  only  in  the  way  of  the  others. 
While  America  has  such  sailors,  she  has  little  to  fear 
from  the  tyrants  of  the  ocean.  From  the  circumstance 
of  her  shot  being  2 1's,  which  I  assure  you  was  the  case, 
as  we  have  felt  and  weighed  them,  I  am  of  oi)inion  that 
it  was  the  Laurel,  a  new  frigate,  which  I  had  information 
of.  A  gentleman  wljom  I  took,  told  me  she  was  in  the 
fleet ;  that  she  was  built  and  manned  for  the  purpose  to 
cope  with  our  frigates  ;  that  if  she  got  sight  of  me,  she 
would  certainly  take  me,  as  she  was  the  fastest  sailer  ho 
ever  saw. 

I  send  you  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  ;  in  every 
thing  else  we  are  in  good  order  and  high  spirits. 

Killed — John  Johnson,  John  Davis  ;  wounded — six. 


!| 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  British  brig  Harriet,  captured  by  the  privateer 
General  Armstrong,  and  sent  into  Porto  Rico,  she  being 


141 


TiiK   amf;uican    ruiVATKKna. 


fiH):i. 


Hhort of  Wiilur  ;  was  Noi/(Ml  l>v  Ihc  Spauisli  ^ovcrinncnl 
and  ;^ivoii  up  to  the  IJritisli. 

On  the  *JOIIi  of  May,  181.'5,  the  privutocr  Alex- 
jinder,  of  Suleiii,  of  18  j^iiiis,  wii.s  cluisud  oi»  isliorc  in 
WoU'h  IJiiy,  by  two  JJiitiwli  iiicii-of-wur.  Shu  was  ho 
closely  pursued  thai  only  twenty  of  her  ercw  had  time 
to  make  their eseapc.  It  foriunately  happened,  however, 
that  a  large  portion  of  her  ei'ew  were  on  board  of 
seven  prizes,  which  «he  hud  made  previous  to  her  eup- 
turc. 

Oil  the  1st  of  .June  the  Yankee  [)rivateer,  of  19  guns, 
with  a  crew  of  200  men,  sailed  in  company  with  the  pri- 
vateer IJlockade,  of  1 5  guns,  from  Newport,  K.  1.,  on  a 
fresh  cruise. 

The  privateer  Grand  Turk,  of  IG  guns,  arrived  at 
Portland,  after  having  captured  three  large,  armed,  and 
vci'y  valuable  ships,  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  all  of  which 
she  ordered  to  proceed  to  France.  On  her  passage  homo 
ghe  also  captured  a  schooner,  which  she  sent  to  the 
United  States. 

EXTRACT  FROM  TIIR  LONDON  COURIER. 

I  herewith  insert  the  following  extract  from  the  Lon- 
don Courier,  dated  June  the  17th,  1813,  in  order  to 
show  the  erroneous  opinions  entertained  in  England  at 
that  period,  with  respect  to  the  power  and  strength 
of  the  United  States  to  defend  their  own  territory  : 

"  Policy  of  taking  New  Orleans. — There  are  argu- 
ments in  our  colonial  journals,  tending  to  prove  that 
there  exists  a  necessity  for  our  government's  taking  pos- 
session of  the  province  of  New  Orleans.  We  extract  the 
following  observations  on  that  subject :  If  Great  Britain 
will  only  take  New  Orleans,  she  will  divide  the  States. 
By  shutting  that  outlet  to  the  fruits  of  Western  indus- 


Slatei 

If  in 

sea,  a 

of  tin 

would 

men,  I 

ought 

and  m 

oui*  po 

old  of  I 

I  hem  V 

ace us to 

1)0  crea 

would  1 

niinions 

.suits." 

In  re 

Americj 

Editor  c 

lions  of 

can  proc 

an  outle 

own  Mis 

with  irr( 

carry  ou 

astrous  i. 

What 

"bout  eid 

ton,  the 

theory  to 

one  word 


iHin.] 


TIIR    AMERICAN    I'RIVATKKRS. 


1  15 


try,  mIic  will  make  hersolf  known  and  lospccttMl  l)y  tlioso 
States,  in  spite  of  the  power  of  the  rest  of  the  Union. 
If  in  the  war  of  1755,  Franee  had  been  as  Hiii)erior  at 
."ca.  as  Britaiii  then  was,  we  shonld  never  have  lit  aitl 
of  the  United  States  of  America.  Tiie  l)a(,'k  counlry 
wonld  liavo  been  as  well  settle(l  l)ef()ro  this  with  i''n'nch- 
iiH'ii,  as  it  now  is  with  the  descendants  of  liritons.  We 
()ii;;ht  at  present  to  take  the  ))onelit  of  former  lessons, 
luid  make  those  people  our  friends,  when  so  much  is  in 
our  power.  Take  New  Orleans,  which  is  at  the  thresh- 
old of  our  West  India  Islands,  and  which  could  furnish 
thoni  with  [)r()visions,  at  half  the  j)i'icc  they  have  been 
accustomed  to  pay.  By  such  conduct,  firm  allies  would 
be  created  on  the  (V)ntincnt.  Our  West  India  i)lantera 
would  be  gratilled,  and  the  integrity  of  the  Spanish  do- 
minions in  America,  guaranteed  from  traitorous  in- 
sults." 

In  reply  to  the  policy  of  taking  Now  Orleans,  an 
American  statesman  says  :  "  This  is  very  good,  but  tho 
Editor  of  the  Courier  seems  not  to  know  that  two  mil- 
lions of  people  as  hardy,  brave  and  patriotic  as  the  world 
can  produce,  are  immediately  interested  in  maintaining 
an  outlet  to  Now  Orleans,  who,  like  the  flood  of  their 
own  Mississippi,  would  precipitate  themselves  on  tho  foe 
with  irresistible  force.  Should  tho  English  attempt  to 
carry  out  their  plan,  it  would  prove  to  thoni  more  dis- 
iistrous  than  the  Walcheren  expedition." 

What  prophetic  words  were  here  announced  !  In 
about  cighioon  months  after  tho  above  article  was  writ- 
ten, the  English  attempted  to  reduce  their  beautiful 
theory  to  practice.  Tho  result  is  too  well  known  to  need 
one  word  of  comment. 


ill 


10 


1 

i 

146 


THE     AMEIMCAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


I'RTZFS  CAPTURED  BY  P.tlVATEERS. 

Schooner  Flying  Fish,  taken  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and 
released  after  dispossessing;  her  of  goods  to  the  value  of 
$1,000. 

Sloop  Catherine,  laden  with  salt,  taken  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  and  sent  into  Cape  Henry,  Hayti. 

Schooner  Kate,  with  salt  fish,  sent  into  Cape  Henry 
by  the  same. 

Ship  Louisa,  10  guns,  laden  with  coffee,  taken  by  the 
Saucy  Jack,  and  burned  to  prevent  her  falling  into  the 
hands  of  a  British  man-of-war,  in  chase. 

Brig  Three  Brothers.  10  guns,  laden  with  2,646  bags 
and  40  tierces  of  coffee,  sent  into  St.  Mary's  by  the 
Saucy  Jack.  The  bounty  on  the  prisoners  when  brought 
in  amounted  to  a  very  handsome  sum. 

Among  the  curious  incidents  that  belong  to  privateer- 
ing, we  notice  the  fitting  out  of  a  three-masted  vessel, 
at  Salem,  called  the  Timothy  Pickering,  apparently  for 
the  chief  purpose  of  seizing  licensed  vessels,  and  those 
evading  the  noi  importation  law. 

Brig  Earl  of  Moira,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Andrews, 
in  ballast,  sent  into  iTachias  by  the  Industry,  of  Mar- 
blehead. 

Schooner  ,  laden  with  a  few  hhds.  of  rum,  sent 

into  Eastport  by  the  privateer  boat  Terrible. 

Two  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  trading  between  the 
United  States  and  the  ports  of  Nova  Scotia,  sent  into 
Machias  by  the  privateer  boats  Holkar  and  Swiftsure, 
worth  $5,000. 

Schooner  Louisa,  of  202  tons,  one  gun,  and  26  men, 
from  St.  Vincents  for  St.  Johns,  a  first  rate  vessel,  Bal- 
timore built,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Expedition,  of  Baltimore,  having  on  board  100 


1813.; 

hhds. 

vesse 

gover 

Th^ 

theT 

Tw 

Leo, 

sold. 

The 
captur 
said  t( 
moved 
able  ar 
fcrtuna 
recapti] 
Brig 
on  her  j 
Brutus 
heard  o 
Scho( 
on  her 
AnE 
sugar  ai 
an  Ame 
to  captu 
shed,  an 
Thep 
tured  th 
port,  her 
215   bah 
74  packa 
goods,  ir 
rich  prize 
I  find 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


147 


hhds.  rum,  and  30  barrels  sugar,.  The  bounty  on  this 
vessel,  cargo  and  prisoners,  allowed  by  the  United  States 
government,  was  about  $4,000. 

There  were  three  vessels  lately  sent  into  France  by 
the  True  Blooded  Yankee. 

Two  vessels  were  recently  sent  into  France  by  the 
Leo,  letter-of-marque,  Captain  T.  Lewis,  and  there 
sold. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Leo,  Captain  T.  Lewis, 
captured  a  homeward-bound  English  Ec^st  India  ship, 
said  to  be  worth  £500,000,  sterling.  Captain  L.  re- 
moved from  his  prize  to  the  Leo,  bullion  and  other  valu- 
able articles  to  the  amount  of  $60,000,  which  sum  wa^ 
fortunately  saved,  as  the  Indiaman  was  subsequently 
recaptured  by  an  English  sloop-of-war. 

Brig ,  captured  by  the  Brutus,  letter-of-marque, 

on  her  passage  to  France,  and  ransomed  for  $5,000.  The 
Brutus  also  captured  another  vessel,  which  was  not 
heard  of. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  General  Armstrong, 

on  her  passage  to  France,  and  burnt. 

An  English  schooner  from  the  West  Indies,  laden  with 
sugar  and  coffee,  bound  for  Halifax.  The  mate  (being 
an  American),  persuaded  some  of  the  crew  to  join  him 
to  capture  her,  which  they  accomplished  without  blood- 
shed, and  took  the  vessel  safely  into  Castine. 

The  privateer  Snap-Dragon,  of  Newburn,  N.  C,  cap- 
tured the  British  brig  Ann,  and  convoyed  her  into  that 
port,  her  cargo  consisted  of  the  following  articles,  namely: 
215  bales  of  cloths,  22  boxes,  18  trunks,  43  casks, 
74  packages,  and  22  crates  of  earthenware,  all  English 
goods,  invoiced  at  £83,000,  sterling.  She  was  truly  a 
rich  prize  for  the  captors. 

I  find  it  stated,  that  in  September,  1813,  the  privateer 


148 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


ti^ 


Matilda,  of  Philadelphia,  was  captured  on  the  coast  of 
Brazil,  by  the  British  ship-of-war  Lion. 

A  schooner  belonging  to  Penobscot  River,  sailed  from 
Salem.  When  off  Mount  Desert,  was  captured  by  the 
English  privateer  Dart,  and  an  English  prize  crew  put 
on  board.  Ah  the  Americans  were  taken  out  of  the 
prize,  except  one  young  man  eighteen  years  of  age  ;  she 
was  ordered  for  Halifax,  and  the  young  American  offi- 
ciated as  pilot.  In  a  fog,  he  adroitly  managed  to  run 
the  schooner  into  Machias,  where  she  was  taken  posses- 
sion of  by  the  revenue  cutter. 

Ship  Reprisal,  from  Scotland  for  the  Bay  of  Chaleur, 
captured  by  -the  Frolic,  of  Salem,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Friends,  of  Bristol  for  Pictou,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Betsey,  taken  by  the  Frolic,  and  burnt. 

Brig ,  from  Newfoundland,  laden  with  fish,  sent 

into  Bordeaux  by  the  letter-of-marqne  schooner  Pilot, 
of  Baltimore. 

Four  vessels  captured  by  the  Lovely  Cordelia,  of 
Charleston,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  cut  out  of  Setang  harbor,  N.  B.,  by  a 

privateer-boat. 

Galliot  Guttle  HofFnung,  of  Portsmouth  (Eng.) ,  cap- 
tured by  the  Frolic,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Jane  Gordon,  of  London,  8  gun,-;,  and  20  men, 
captured  by  the  same,  dispossessed  of  her  valuable  arti- 
cles, and  burnt. 

Schooner  Hunter,  captured  by  the  same,  and  con- 
verted into  a  cartel. 

Ship  Grotius,  of  London,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
sent  into  Portland. 

Schooners  Vigilant,  and  Susan,  captured  by  the  same, 
and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 


1813.] 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


149 


Sloop ,  laden  with  dry-goods,  sent  into  Ellsworth, 

by  a  privatcer-boat  belonging  to  Beer  Island. 

Brig ,  IVoin  Lisbon  for  London,  laden  with  wool, 

rice,  and  cotton,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  from 
France,  and  burnt. 

Two  small  vessels  captured  by  the  privateer-boat  Ter- 
rible, of  Salem,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Schooner  Lilly,  from  Port-au-Prince  for  London,  cap- 
tured by  the  letter-of-marque  schooner  Pilot,  of  Balti- 
more, and  given  up,  after  taking  out  some  sugars,  etc. 

Brig  Mary  Ann,  from  St.  Lucie  for  St.  Johns,  N.  B., 
laden  with  180  puncheons  of  rum,  and  147  hhds.  of 
molasses,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  for 
$4,000. 

Brig ,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  General 

Armstrong,  on  her  passage  to  France,  and  burnt. 

A  brig  and  a  sloop  sent  into  Machias,  by  the  Indus- 
try, of  Salem. 

The  privateer  Rattlesnake,  Captain  MafFet,  captured 
the  British  packet  Lapwing,  and  after  divesting  the 
prize  of  her  armament,  &c.  &c.,  Captain  M.  transformed 
her  into  a  cartel  for  prisoners,  and  sent  her  to  Falmouth, 
England. 

Two  English  ships  taken  by  the  True-Blooded  Yan- 
kee, and  sent  into  France. 

Sloop  Traveller,  with  a  cargo  of  52  packages  of  dry- 
goods,  13  casks  of  red  wine,  70  crates  of  crockery  ware, 
68  casks  of  copperas,  15  hhds.  of  alum,  4  do.  of  sugar, 
sent  into  Machias  by  the  privateer-boat  Lark. 

Ship  Industry,  sent  into  Bergen  (Norway),  by  the 
True-Blooded  Yankee,  and  there  sold. 

Ship  London  Packet,  14  guns,  from  Buenos  Ayresfor 
London,  laden  with  16,000  hides,  etc.,  captured  by  the 


160 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


L1813. 


letter-of-marque  brig  Argus,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into 
that  port,  where  the  brig  also  arrived.  The  prize  was 
estimated  at  $100,000. 

Brig  Atlantic,  from  Trinidad  for  Cork,  laden  with  320 
lihds.  of  sugar,  90  seroons  of  indigo,  and  other  valuable 
commodities,  captured  by  the  Argus,  and  ordered  for 
the  first  port  in  the  United  States.  The  indigo,  worth 
$18,000  or  $20,000,  was  taken  out  of  the  prize,  and 
safely  brought  into  port  by  the  Argus. 

Brig  Jane,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  to 
dispose  of  the  prisoners  taken  in  sundry  prizes. 

Brig  Jane,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  Snap-Dragon, 
and  given  up  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

"  His  majesty's"  packet,  Morgiana,  18  guns,  9  poun- 
ders, two  of  them  long  brass  pieces,  50  men,  burden 
400  tons,  captured  by  the  privateer  Saratoga,  of  4  guns, 
and  116  men,  by  boarding.  The  Saratoga,  chased  by 
a  frigate,  had  been  compelled  to  throw  overboard  12  of 
her  guns,  previous  to  the  action,  but  took  the  brass 
pieces  from  the  packet,  and  continued  her  cruise.  The 
Morgiana  was  obstinately  defended  ;  had  two  men  killed 
and  five  wounded,  among  the  latter,  the  captain,  severe- 
ly. The  Saratoga  had  three  men  killed  and  seven 
wounded.  Before  the  Morgiana  struck,  she  threw  over 
the  mail.  The  prize  has  arrived  at  Newport,  R.  L, 
where  her  late  captain  has  publicly  offered  his  thanks  to 
the  prize -master,  for  his  humanity  and  kindness  during 
his  captivity. 

During  this  same  cruise,  the  Saratoga  took  a  brig  and 
a  ship,  and  burnt  them  both,  being  of  little  value. 

Schooner  ^ ,  of  130  tons,  from  St.  Johns  for  the 

West  Indies,  sent  into  Machias  by  the  privateer  Gen. 
Stark. 

Several  American    privateers   were   on   the   British 


1813.] 


TlIK    AMJ'UICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


151 


coast  about  this  time.  The  Lion  and  two  others  were 
cruising  on  the  coast  of  Spain.  The  Scourge  and  Rat- 
tlesnake released  180  prisoners,  which  they  took  in  a 
fleet  from  Archangel. 

Fifteen  vessels,  captured  off  Jamaica  by  the  Lovely 
Cordelia,  of  Charleston,  the  valuable  articles  were  taken 
out,  and  the  vessels  destroyed.  The  Lovely  Cordelia 
arrived  safely  in  port,  after  a  fortunate  cruise. 

A  brig,  captured  by  the  Lovely  Cordelia,  and  manned 
for  the  United  States,  was  subsequently  wrecked  on  the 
coast  of  Florida. 

Schooner  Fame,  from  Barbadoes  for  Berbice,  laden 
with  Madeira  wine,  and  government  stores,  captured  by 
the  Saratoga,  was  wrecked  on  Long  Island,  her  crew  and 
cargo  all  saved. 

Ship  St.  Lawrence,  from  England,  with  a  British  li- 
cense, full  of  most  valuable  British  goods,  worth  from 
$300,000  to  $400,000,  captured  by  an  Eastern  priva- 
teer, and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  N.  IL,  where  she  was 
condemned.  The  vessel  and  property  were  professedly 
American,  but  were  ultimately  proved  to  be  English,  con- 
sequently a  good  prize  to  the  captors. 

The  Privateer  Yankee,  during  her  last  cruise  cap- 
tured nine  vessels,  two  of  which  she  gave  up  to  dispose 
of  her  prisoners  and  sent  them  to  England  as  cartels,  and 
after  making  a  successful  cruise  returned  again  to  Rhode 
Island. 

The  letter-of-marque  Water-Witch,  of  New  York,  fell  in 
with  a  British  fleet  of  merchantmen,  and  captured  three 
of  them,  which  she  manned  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  President,  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  sugar,  molas- 
ses, and  rum,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Polly,  of 
Salem. 

The  Yankee,  on  her  last  cruise  of  49  days,  captured 


II 


162 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


the  brig  Ann,  ^vith  rum,  salt,  and  dry-goods,  for  New- 
fouudlraid,  valued  at  $40,000  ;  brig  Mary,  with  salt,  etc., 
worth  $20,000  ;  brig  Despatch,  cargo  of  general  English 
manufactures,  invoiced  at  £80,000,  sterling  ;  brig  Tele- 
machus,  with  rigging,  coals,  provisions,  etc.,  $40,000  ; 
brig  Favorite,  of  little  value,  given  up  to  release  the  pri- 
soners ;  schooner  Katy,  laden  with  wine  ;  bark  Paris, 
10  guns,  captured  after  35  minutes  fight,  a  very  valuable 
vessel ;  brig  Howe,  6  guns,  threw  the  guns  overboard, 
and  gave  up  the  vessel  to  the  prisoners  ;  John  and  Mary, 
loaded  with  provisions  and  other  goods,  worth  $49,000. 
These  loaded  vessels  were  part  of  a  fleet  from  Cork  ;  two 
of  them  were  ordered  for  Franco,  and  the  rest  for  differ- 
ent ports  in  the  United  States.  It  is  possible  the  greater 
part  of  the  Yankee's  prizes  may  be  recaptured.  If  she 
had  belonged  to  the  United  States,  sailing  under  orders 
to  destroy  the  commerce  of  the  enemy,  the  loss  of  pro- 
perty would  have  been  equal  to  half  a  million  of  dollars 
on  his  part,  and  the  gain  of  180  prisoners  on  ours,  in  the 
space  of  49  days. 

Thirteen  merchant  vessels  captured  on  tne  coast  of 
Spain,  by  the  Leo  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 


(;0PY  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  COMMODORE  LEWIS,  TO  THE  SECRETARY 

OF  THE  NAVY. 

"  Sir,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  of  the  recap- 
ture of  the  American  schooner  Sparrow,  of  Baltimore, 
from  New  Orleans  bound  to  this  port,  laden  with  sugar 
and  lead.  On  the  3d,  the  enemy's  ship  Plant-agenet 
chased  the  said  vessel  on  shore,  near  Long  Branch,  six 
miles  distant  from  where  the  flotilla  is  stationed,  and 
took  possession  of  her  with  about  one  htmdred  men.  A 
detachment  from  the  flotilla  marched  against  them,  at- 
facked  them,  drove  them  from  on  board  the  vessel,  and 


(I 


1813.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


153 


took  possession  under  a  fire  from  the  enemy's  ship  and 
barges.  In  the  affair  we  lost  one  man  ;  the  enemy's 
loss  must  have  been  considerable,  as  many  were  seen  to 
full.  The  whole  cargo,  together  with  sails,  rigging,  etc., 
liave  been  saved,  vessel  bilged. 

"  The  saving  of  the  cargo  of  the  Sparrow,  was  a  very 
oallant  affair.  The  74  came  near  enough  to  fire  grape 
tihot  at  our  people,  having  no  sort  of  shelter,  they  laid 
down  on  the  sand,  and  presented  their  heads  to  the 
enemy  ;  and  when  his  barges  neared  the  shore,  they  rose 
and  beat  them  off." 

New  York,  Ncvembtr  7,  1813.  *  ^ 

The  London  papers  give  a  doleful  account  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  an  American  privateer  off  the  mouth  of  the 
Tagus  (Portugal.)  They  report  that  she  had  captured 
32  British  vessels,  many  of  them  richly  laden,  and  that 
their  merchant  vessels  were  unable  to  leave  the  ports  of 
Great  Britain  without  convoy. 

They  further  add,  that  the  American  privateers  seem- 
ed to  increase  daily,  that  they  infest  every  part  of 
Europe,  that  they  were  also  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  and 
among  the  West  India  Islands,  and  that  there  was  no 
security  for  trade  and  commerce  except  under  the  gung 
of  their  men-of-war. 

I  herewith  extract  from  a  Salem  newspaper,  the  num- 
ber and  names  of  all  the  privateers,  lost  and  taken  by 
the  British,  belonging  to  that  place  and  the  neighboring 
ports,  which  are  as  follows  : — 


Schooner  Fair  Trader, 
•'         Regulator, 
"         Active, 
"         Dolphin, 
"  Buckskin, 

"         Revenge 

Ship  John, 

Schooner  Enterprise, 


Brig  Montgomery, 
Ship  Alexander, 
Schooner  Cossack, 
Boat  Owl, 
Sloop  Wasp, 
Schooner  Growler, 
Schooner  Dart — lost, 
Gallinipper — cast-away  and  lost. 


li 


154 


THE    AMEUICAN  rUlVATEERS. 


[1813. 


The  whole  viiliio  of  llie  above  IG  privateers,  was  esti- 
mated at  $104,100,  The  sale  of  prizes  brouglit  into 
Salem,  up  to  this  date,  amounts  to  $075,095  93. 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

An  American  schooner,  from  one  of  the  Eastern  ports, 
laden  with  700  barrels  of  flour,  bound  for  Halifax,  sent 
into  New  Bedford  by  the  Water-Witch  of  Bristol, 
R.  I. 

Sloop  Eliza  Ann,  valuable,  sent  into  Eastport.  The 
commander  of  the  British  sloop-of-war  Martin,  had  de- 
manded her  restoration,  under  the  penalty  of  destroying 
the  town.  The  demand  was  not  complied  with,  and 
some  shot  were  exchanged  between  that  vessel  and  the 
fort,  without  apparent  injury  to  either  party.  The  Eliza 
Ann  was  captured  by  the  Timothy  Pickering. 

The  scliooner  Experiment,  of  New  York,  was  captured 
off  Cape  Henry  ;  a  prize-master  and  three  men  were 
sent  on  board,  and  two  of  the  crew  taken  out,  the  Cap- 
tain and  one  man  left.  The  same  night  the  captain  re- 
captured his  vessel. 

The  schooner  Federalist,  taken  by  the  British,  was 
sent  into  Cape  May  for  ransom.  The  citizens  took  pos- 
session of  the  vessel  and  set  the  men  at  liberty. 

Captain  W.  S.  Stafford,  famous  for  his  defence  of  the 
Dolphin  privateer,  in  the  Chesapeake,  during  the  last 
summer,  was  attacked  close  in  with  Charleston  bar,  on 
the  27th  of  November,  by  five  boats,  from  a  British  brig- 
of-war,  when  close  upon  him,  he  tore  one  of  the  boats 
to  pieces  with  grape  shot,  and  gave  the  rest  employment 
in  saving  their  comrades.  The  brig,  after  discharging  a 
broadside  at  him,  hauled  off.  Capt.  S.  had  one  man 
wounded.     The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  known. 

Captain  Kennedy,  of  the  sloop  Betsey,  from  Maurice 


1813.] 


TIIK    AMERICAN    rRIVATERRS. 


155 


River  for  Newborn,  N".  C,  was  captured  by  tlio  Lacede- 
monian, who  put  5  men  and  a  prize-master  on  board, 
Icavinji;  Oapt.  K.  and  another  person  on  board,  which 
two  made  out  to  surround  the  six  Englishmen,  and  take 
them  safely  to  Newbern.  The  prize-master  i)romised 
tliat  no  further  resistance  should  be  made,  and  he  did 
not  attempt  it,  he  of  course  was  well  watched. 

The  Timothy  Pickering,  privateer,  sent  into  Salem 
the  brig  Dart.  The  Pickering  also  about  the  same  per- 
iod, sent  a  schooner  into  the  same  port. 

Sloop  Gen.  Hodgkinson,  from  Curracoa  for  Martin- 
ique, with  salt  and  some  specie,  captured  by  the  Sara- 
toga, but  cast  away  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  where  the 
prize-master  and  crew  arrived  safe. 

Brig  Edward,  from  N".  B.,  laden  with  oil  and  fish,  was 
captured  and  sent  into  Folly  landing  by  the  Fox  priva- 
teer, of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Lloyd,  from  Goree,  captured  by  the  Sarato;;a, 
her  cargo  of  camwood,  muskets  and  pistols  taken  out, 
and  the  vessel  burnt. 

Ship  Venus,  of  10  guns,  from  London  for  Bonavista, 
captured  by  the  Saratoga,  divested  of  her  guns  and  all 
her  valuables,  and  suffered  to  proceed  with  a  little 
"friendly  advice,"  not  being  worth  sending  in.  The 
Saratoga  had  thrown  10  of  her  guns  overboard,  when 
chased  by  a  British  ship-of-war,  and  now  supplied  her- 
self very  opportunely  from  the  Venus. 

Schooner  Joseph,  of  Surinam,  laden  with  government 
stores,  captured  by  the  Saratoga,  who  took  out  her  car- 
go, and  ransomed  the  vessel,  putting  on  board  29  pri- 
soners on  parole. 

Schooner  Lady  Cockburn,  with  a  cargo  of  indigo  and 
coifee,  taken  by  the  same — took  out  the  cargo,  and  al- 
lowed her  to  proceed  to  her  destined  port. 


»» 
* 


15C 


THE    AMEKICAN    I'UIVATMKHS. 


[1813. 


Tho  Sanilopra  has  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N.  0.  ;  be- 
sides tho  ciirgocM  of  tho  abov«>  vosmcIh,  alio  \h  mud  to  have 
on  board  a  considerablo  sum  in  .Mpecic.  She  wattMvd 
at  tlie  Canary  Iwlands,  wlioro  aha  was  very  (.'ivilly 
trcatcMl. 

Tiio  brig  Sir  Jolm  Shcrbrokc,  of  10  guns  and  40  men, 
taken  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  after  a  figlit  of  twenty  minulos, 
in  wliieh  she  liad  two  men  killed,  and  five  wounded. 
The  Sauey  Jaek  sustained  but  little  injury,  exeept  three 
men  slightly  wounded. 

Tho  valuable  ship  Manly,  4  guns,  laden  with  wine,  oil, 
etc.,  from  Halifax,  for  the  West  Indies,  sent  into  Char- 
leston, S.  C,  by  the  Revenge,  of  Baltimore. 

A  brig  laden  with  sugar  and  molasses,  captured  by 
the  Caroline  of  Baltimore  ;  was  recaptured  by  the  Bri- 
tish off  Charleston. 

We  have  had  the  pleasure  of  noticing  tho  exploits  of 
tho  Lion  privateer,  of  Baltimore,  off  the  coasts  of  Spain 
and  Portugal.  She  safely  arrived  at  L'Orient  in  France, 
with  about  $400,000  on  board,  after  having  destroyed 
15  or  20  English  vessels. 

Schooner  Messenger,  from  the  West  Indies,  laden 
with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by 
the  Comet,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig ,  laden  with  rum,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N. 

C,  by  the  letter-of-marquo  schooner  Eliza. 

Brig  Agnes,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  Saucy-Jack, 
on  her  late  cruise,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  John,  divested  of  her  cargo  of  provisions,  etc., 
etc.,  taken  by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

Tho  Saucy-Jack  took  several  small  British  vessels, 
which  tho  commander  gave  up  "  without  ransom."  The 
privateer  arrived  at  Charleston  ten  or  twelve  days 
after. 


I8i:{.] 


THE   AMKRICAN    rRIVATKKIlS. 


167 


Brig  Al)ol,  from  the  Wost  [ndios,  laden  with  nun  iind 
HUgjir,  sent  into  North  Carolina  hy  the  Caroline,  of  IJal- 
thnorc. 


UNFOllTUNATO    RESCONTRK  nr-lTWREN    A   milTTSIT   RI^OOrOK-WAR, 
AND  THK  rillVATKKIl  (UtAMI'US,  OF  HAF/riMOUK. 

The  sehooner  Grampus  safely  arrived  at  New  Yoi'k, 
from  an  unfortunate  cruise  among  the  Canary  Islands. 

T'revious  to  her  leaving  her  cruising  ground,  she  cap- 
tured the  British  brig  Speculation,  from  Lanzarote  bound 
to  London,  but  as  she  was  an  old  vessel  of  little  value, 
Capt.  Murphy  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Soon  after  he  gave  up  his  prize,  a  British  sloop-of- 
war  hove  in  sight,  and  was  so  well  disguised  as  a  mer- 
chantman, that  Capt.  Murphy  was  decoyed  quite  under 
her  guns,  before  he  discovered  his  mistake.  Believing  her 
to  be  a  letter- of-marquc,  ho  was,  as  it  were,  taken  by 
surprise  when  the  man-of-war  opened  her  porta,  and 
gave  the  Grampus  a  terrible  1)roadside  from  her  main- 
deck  battery  when  within  half  pistol-shot  distance.  By 
this  destructive  discharge  Captain  Murphy,  and  one 
seaman  were  killed,  and  several  of  the  crew  wounded. 

The  privateer  suffered  greatly  in  her  sails  and  rigging, 
and  it  was  only  by  the  utmost  exertion  she  was  able  to 
make  her  escape  from  the  enemy. 

The  writer  of  this  article  was  personally  acquainted 
with  Captain  John  Murphy  ;  some  months  previous  to 
this  sad  event  we  met  at  Bordeaux.  Capt.  M.  was  then 
ill  command  of  the  Grampus. 

At  that  period  I  commanded  the  letter-of-marque 
David  Porter,  which  vessel  was  lying  at  La  Teste,  a 
small  port  about  thirty  miles  from  Bordeaux. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  add  that  Captain  Murphy  was 
a  brave,  worthy  man,  and  an  excellent  seaman,  highly 


158 


THK    AMKUICAN    IMIIVATKKRS. 


[1813. 


1813. 


cstoomed  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  liiin.  T  have  no 
doubt  IiIh  hard  lUtc  drew  umny  a  8ynii)alhotic  tear  from 
the  gentle  and  good  of  his  numerou.s  friends  in  Balti- 
more. 


"so    SLEEP   THE    BRAVE." 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Sloop  RoHoliition,  from  Jersey  for  Lisbon,  with  linen, 
pa^jer,  etc.,  captured  by  the  lottcr-of-marquo  schooner 
Gen.  ArniHtrouf!;,  on  her  passage  from  France  to  the 
United  States,  dispossessed  her  of  her  cargo,  and  gave 
her  iij)  to  th(3  prisoners. 

Brig  Phoobe,  from  Ireland  for  Madeira,  laden  with 
butter  and  potatoes,  captured  by  the  same,  and  scuttled. 
The  General  Armstrong  soon  after  arrived  at  New 
York. 

Brig  Commerce,  from  Martinique  for  Halifax,  laden 
with  rum  and  molasses,  a  prize  to  the  Ictter-of-marque 
brig  Flirt,  of  New  York.  The  prize  was  partially  dis- 
masted, and  otherwise  so  severely  damaged  as  induced 
the  crew  to  abandon  her.  She  was  consequently  de- 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Fanny,  from  Trinidad,  laden  with  sugar, 
carried  into  Charleston,  S.  C,  by  the  Revenge. 

Brig  Victoria,  laden  with  250  hhds.  of  Jamaica  rum, 
40  hhds.  of  sugar,  and  a  quantity  of  coffee,  sent  into 
Savannah  by  the  Rapid,  of  Charleston. 

British  ship  Tryal,  200  tons,  burnt  by  the  Grand 
Turk. 

Brig ,  from  Lisbon,  captured  by  the  same,  and 

ransomed  for  $8,000. 

Schooner ,  from   Martinique,  laden  with   120 

hhds.  of  molasses,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Carohne. 
The  prize  had  British  and  Swedish  papers. 


Br 

and  I 

Th 

can-y 

men, 

Iiidicj 

Bri 

(N.  C. 

by  the 

The 

the  Mi 

unfort 

picked 

were  ]< 

Iho 

under  ; 

Brig 

ber,  cai 

The 

Besides 

valuabli 

ships  Wi 

Turk  cr 

Channel 

inan-of- 

Schoo 

into  Sun 

more. 

Pink 
$20,000 
off  Geor 
into  a  ne 
Ten  c 
addition 


1813.] 


THE   AMKIUCAN    I'lUVATKEUS. 


159 


Hri^  SiltMia,  captured  by  the  llcvengo  of  JJultimore, 
and  burnt. 

The  elegant  privateor-ship  .fai^ob  Jones,  of  000  touH, 
carrying  20  twelvc-pomulers,  and  a  piekcd  crew  of  127 
men,  lately  .sailed  from  lio.ston,  on  a  cruise  in  the  East 
Indies, 

lirig ,  from  St.  Lucia,  sent  into   Elizabeth  City, 

(N.  (/.),  laden  with  140  hhds.  and  200  barrels  of  sugar, 
by  the  Caroline. 

The  Privateer  Rapid,  of  Charleston,  being  chased  off 
the  Mississippi,  by  the  British  sloop-of-war  Herald,  was 
unfortunately  upset.  Her  crew,  however,  wci'e  soon 
picked  up,  and  saved  by  the  boats  of  the  enemy.  They 
were  kindly  treated  as  prisoners  of  war. 

I  hope  no  civilized  nation  would  have  acted  otherwise 
under  similar  circumstances. 

Brig ,  from  Halifax  for  England,  laden  with  lum- 
ber, captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and  burnt. 

The  Grand  Turk,  about  this  time,  arrived  at  Salem. 
Besides  the  above  vessels,  she  captured  and  maimed  two 
valuable  ships,  one  brig  and  one  schooner.  One  of  the 
ships  was  estimated  to  be  worth  $150,000.  The  Grand 
Turk  cruised  about  20  days  in  the  mouth  of  the  English 
Channel.  She  had  no  fighting,  nor  was  she  chased  by  a 
man-of-war  during  her  absence. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  sugar,   coffee,   etc.,  sent 

into  Sunbury  by  the  Patapsco,  letter-of-marque,  of  Balti- 
more. 

Pink  stern-boat,  belonging  to  Herrings  Gut,  with 
$20,000  worth  of  English  goods  on  board,  was  captured 
off  George's  River,  by  a  row-boat  privateer,  and  sent 
into  a  neighboring  port. 

Ten  enemy's  vessels,  captured  by  the  Caroline,  (in 
addition  to  those  whose  safe  arrival  have  been  noticed.) 


w 


( 


160 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


divested  them  of  their  valuable  articles,  burnt,  sunk, 
etc.  The  Caroline  arrived  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,with  a  large 
amount  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  on  board.  She  caught  also 
two  traitor  vessels.  The  following  is  an  extract  from 
her  log-book  : — 

"  Nov.  20/A — Fell  in  with  the  American  sloop  Osi.'is, 
Driggs,  from  Martinique  bound  to  St.  Bartholomew, 
with  a  cargo  of  molasses.  Capt.  Driggs,  taking  the 
Caroline  for  a  British  cruiser,  showed  his  British  license 
to  Captain  Almeda,  at  the  same  time  informing  him, 
that  he  had  supplied  Commodore  Oliver,  of  his  Majesty's 
ship  Valiant,  of  New  London,  with  a  quantity  of  pota- 
toes and  apples,  for  which  he  was  paid,  and  that  he  had 
no  doubt  if  he  fell  in  with  an  American  privateer  he 
should  be  hung.  Put  Mr.  Canoning  and  a  prize-crcAv 
on  board  the  Osiris,  and  ordered  her  for  the  first  Ame- 
rican port." 

The  lettoof-marque  Herald,  arrived  at  New  York 
on  the  26th  of  December,  from  Charleston.  On  the  pas- 
sage she  engaged  an  English  schooner,  and  after  having 
Cj^changed  several  broadsides  they  separated,  it  being 
near  night  when  the  rencontre  occurred. 

An  American  privateer  of  18  guns,  sailed  from  Bor- 
deaux, in  October,  bound  on  a  cruise. 


DESPERATE  ACTION  OFF  MADEIRA,  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER 
SCHOONER  GLOBE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  RICHARD  MOCK,  COMMANDER, 
AND  TWO  ENGLISH  PACKETS. 

The  Globe  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1814,  when  the  captain  reported  an  account 
of  his  action.  I  have  re- written  the  substance  of  it  in 
nautical  style,  as  follows  : — 

On  the  1st  of  November,,  while  cruising  off  Madeira, 
we  saw  a  sail  to  leeward ;  bore  away  to  ascertain  her 


1^ 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


IGl 


character.  She  proved  to  bo  a  large  man-of-war  brig, 
and  after  exchanging  a  few  shots,  I  thought  it  most  pru- 
dent to  haul  off.  Before  we  separated,  however,  we  re- 
ceived a  nine-pound-shot  under  our  quarter,  very  near 
the  water-line.  After  getting  clear  of  the  man-of-war, 
we  proceeded  off  the  port  of  Funchal.  We  there  saw 
two  brigs,  backing  and  filling  about  the  roads,  appar- 
ently ready  to  leave  port.  They  probably  saw  the  Globe 
in  the  offing,  and  were  perhaps  waiting  for  us  to  leave 
the  Island,  to  enable  them  to  proceed  to  sea  without 
molestation. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  they 
sailed  out  of  the  roads,  and  steered  to  the  southward. 
We  gave  chase,  but  as  it  soon  became  dark  and  squally, 
we  lost  sight  of  them. 

We  however,  still  continued  the  pursuit  under  easy 
sail,  until  daylight  the  next  morning. 

November  the  3d,  at  6  o'clock,  we  saw  the  two  brigs 
again  bearing  S.W.  from  us.  some  six  or  eight  miles  dis- 
tant, we  continued  the  chase  until  half-past  11a.  m., 
when  the  largest  brig  commenced  firing  upon  us  with 
her  stern  guns,  which  was  soon  returned,  when  the  action 
commenced  in  good  earnest.  At  half-past  twelve  noon, 
we  sheered  up  alongside  of  our  adversary  to  board 
him. 

The  schooner  unfortunately  fell  off,  so  that  only  the 
first  and  second  Lieutenants,  and  three  seamen,  had 
time  to  get  on  board. 

These  poor  fellows  were  probably  overpowered  and 
killed  by  the  enemy.  At  this  time  the  Globe  was  very 
much  injured  in  her  sails  and  rigging.  While  we  were 
thus  engaged  with  the  first  brig,  the  other  one  bore  up, 
and  passing  athwart  our  bows,  gave  us  a  terrible  raking 
fire,  which  completely  cut  up  our  sails  and  rigging. 
11 


1G2 


THE   AMEllICAN   nilVATEERS. 


[1813. 


This  broadside  added  to  the  injury  we  had  already 
received  from  lier  consort,  rendered  our  schooner  for  a 
considerable  time  quite  unmanageable. 

We  however,  continued  the  fight  at  close  quarters, 
until  we  compelled  the  largest  brig  to  strike  her  colors, 
at  half-past  three  o'clock. 

The  other  brig  continued  the  action  with  great  obstin- 
acy, pouring  in  upon  us  broadside  after  broadside  within 
half  pistol-shot  distance. 

The  largest  brig  having  surrendered,  we  managed  to 
get  the  Globe  under  steerage-way,  and  return  the  fire 
of  the  second  brig,  which  had  so  severely  injured  us. 
We  were  now  able  to  return  his  fire  with  compound  in- 
terest, at  close  quarters,  until  half-past  four  o'clock,  when 
we  found  our  vessel  almost  in  a  sinking  condition  ;  hav- 
ing received  seven  shot  in  our  hull  nearly  between  wind 
and  water. 

Notwithstanding  our  disabled  condition,  we  managed 
to  haul  to  windward  to  take  possession  of  the  brig  that 
first  struck  ;  when  to  our  surprise,  she  again  hoisted  her 
colors,  and  gave  us  a  broadside,  being  aided  by  her  con- 
sort. We  were  obhged  to  haul  off  to  repair  damages, 
having  the  greater  part  of  our  standing  and  running 
rigging  shot  away,  and  not  a  sail  but  what  was  com- 
pletely riddled  with  shot,  and  almost  useless. 

The  two  brigs  were  jDackets.  We  saw  one  of  them 
throw  her  mails  overboard  during  the  action. 

The  largest  brig  mounted  eighteen  guns,  and  the 
other  sixteen  twelve-pounders.  They  were  mostly  brass 
pieces. 

We  found  one  double-headed  shot  sticking  in  our 
side  which  weighed  12  lbs. 

We  have  every  reason  to  believe,  that  the  enemy  suf- 
fered severely,  and  that  great  numbers  of  men  were 


1813.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


163 


killed  on  board  both  these  vessels,  by  our  great  guns  and 
musketry. 

After  the  action,  we  proceeded  to  the  Grand  Canary 
Island  to  repair  damages,  and  refit. 

While  in  that  port,  we  heard  from  Santa  Cruz,  Tene- 
riffe,  that  a  British  packet  brig,  carrying  18  guns,  and 
another  brig  of  14,  had  recently  arrived  at  that  port. 
They  reported  tliat  a  few  days  before  they  had  a  severe 
engagement  with  an  American  privateer,  and  that  they 
succeeded  in  beating  her  off,  with  great  loss  to  them- 
selves, having  had  27  men  killed  and  wounded,  besides 
being  terri^.ly  cut  up  in  their  hulls,  sails,  and  rigging. 

The  loss  of  the  Globe  w.as  eight  killed,  and  fifteen 
wounded.  Here  follow  the  names  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  : —  '  * 

Killed, —  John  Harrison,  first  lieutenant ;  John 
Smith,  second  lieutenant ;  Joshua  Brown,  seaman ; 
Richard  Blair,  do.;  James  Thelis,  do.;  Samuel  D.  Smith, 
do.;  Sandy  Forbes,  do.;  Oliver,  do. 

Wounded. — Richard  Moon,  captain ;  Noah  Allen, 
prize-master  ;    John  Frinks,   do.;   Asa   Hart,   seaman  ; 

Ab.  Kinhart,  do.; Fortune,  do.;  Job  E,  Wheeler,  do.; 

P.  Short,  do.;  F.  Statt,  do.;  T.  Jifford,  do.;  J.  Arnold, 
J.  Beatly,  do.;  John  Wilson,  do.;  John  Mitchell,  do.; 
Daniel  Milton,  do. 

The  force  of  the  Globe  was  one  long-tom  amidships, 
and  eight  twelve-pound  carronades,  with  a  complement 
of  ninety  men,  including  officers  and  marines. 


prizes  CAPTURED  BY   PRIVATEERS. 

Hermaphrodite  brig  Cossack,  from  Martinique  for  Ber- 
muda, laden  with  1B3  hlids.,  2  tierces,  and  68  barrels  of 
sugar,   sent  into  Georgetown,  S.  C,  by  the  letter-of- 


164 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


marque  schooner  General  Stark,  of  2  guns  and  12  men. 
on  her  passage  to  St.  Domingo.  The  General  Stark  had 
previously  recaptured  an  American  vessel,  and  ordered 
her  into  port,  and  at  the  time  of  capturing  the  Cossack, 
had  only  eight  men  on  board,  three  of  whom,  witli  a 
boy,  brought  in  the  prize  and  her  crew  (12  in  number), 
all  safe.  This  is  truly  '*  Yankee  enterprize."  The  Gcii. 
Stark  belongs  to  Salem.  The  bounty  allowed  to  our 
letters-of-marque  and  privateers,  (on  the  reduction  of 
duties,)  on  the  cargo  of  this  vessel,  is  equal  to  nearly 
$4,000. 

Schooner  Jasper,  from  Surinam,  laden  with  coffee, 
sugar  and  rum,  a  prize  to  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore, 
sent  into  Georgetown,  S.  C.  It  is  stated  this  vessel  woukl 
have  been  wrecked  and  lost  on  the  bar,  but  for  the  meri- 
torious exertions  of  Lieutenant  Monk,  of  the  United 
States  Navy. 

Schooner  Rebecca,  from  Halifax  for  Bermuda,  cargo 
live  stock  and  provisions,  sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the 
Grand  Turk. 

Schooner  Agnes,  from  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland,  for 
Bermuda,  laden  with  fish,  sent  into  France  by  the 
same. 

Brig  Criterion,  a  traitor  vessel,  laden  with  80  hhds. 
of  rum,  captured  by  the  Caroline  of  Baltimore,  and  sent 
into  Stonington,  Conn.  This  vessel  was  tried  and  con- 
demned for  account  of  the  captors. 

Schooner  Henry,  laden  with  fish,  sent  into  Charleston 
by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk. 

Schooner  Maria,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Nereid,  280  tons,  10  guns,  from  London  for 
Buenos  Ayres,  laden  with  250  bales  of  dry-goods,  2C3 
packages  and  trunks  of  the  same,  150  casks,  hhds.  and 
tierces  of  hardware  and  jewelry,  869  bundles  of  iron 


1S13.] 


THE    AMKiilCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


165 


lioops,  80  bars  of  iron,  and  a  quantity  of  coal,  etc.,  the 
whole  valued  at  £75,000  sterling,  captured  off  Madeira, 
by  the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into 
that  port.  TJie  Governor  Tompkins  had  also  captured 
two  other  very  valuable  vessels,  and  manned  them  for  the 
United  States,  and  was  left  in  chase  of  a  ship  ;  all  these 
had  belonged  to  a  lleet  that  sailed  under  convoy,  but 
separated  in  a  gale.  Allowing  this  vessel's  cargo  to  be 
worth  £75,000,  the  bounty  in  the  reduction  of  duties, 
of  itself,  is  equal  to  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  dollars. 

Eight  vessels,  taken  by  the  True-Blooded  Yankee, 
and  burnt  off  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

The  Castor,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her 
valuable  articles,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  also  captured  the  follow- 
ing British  vessels,  namely,  the  Active,  Watson,  Cora, 
and  Eliza,  and  sent  them  into  France. 

Schooner  Traveller,  laden  with  119  hhds.  and  60  bar- 
rels of  sugar,  besides  coffee,  etc.,  and  sent  into  Squam 
by  the  Frolic,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  George,  laden  with  dry-goods,  and  sundries, 
sent  into  Ellsworth  by  the  Fly,  privateer. 

Sloop  Experiment,  with  dry-goods,  hardware,  and 
lumbar,  sent  into  Machias,  by  the  same  privateer  as 
above. 

The  Fox  privateer  has  arrived  at  Salem,  having  made 
several  valuable  captures.  The  Fox  was  loaded  with 
dry-goods  and  hardware,  and  had  on  board  21  English 
prisoners. 

The  Vigilant,  a  tender  to  the  Admiral  of  the  Windward 
Island  station,  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  and 
sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Schooner ;  laden  with  sugar  and  coffee,  sent  into 

Savannah  by  the  Patapsco,  of  Baltimore. 


100 


THE    AMERICAN    rillVATEEKS. 


[18K 


The  very  valuable  brig,  Young  Husband,  laden  with 
dry-goods,  hardware,  etc.,  from  Bristol,  England,  for 
Madeira,  sent  into  N"ewi)ort  by  the  Governor  Tomp- 
kins. 

Nine  vessels  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore, 
divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and  sunk.  The  Comet 
is  stated  to  have  had  a  handsome  amount  in  cash  and 
rich  goods  on  board.  Besides  the  above,  she  captured 
and  manned  foiu'  prizes,  one  of  which  hud  at  this  time 
arrived.  She  had  a  terrible  battle  with  the  ship  Ili- 
bernia,  of  800  tons,  22  guns,  and  a  large  complement 
of  men,  but  was  beaten  ofl".  The  fight  lasted  about  eight 
hours.  The  great  height  and  strength  of  the  ship  pro- 
bably saved  her.  The  privateer  had  three  men  killed, 
and  16  wounded.  The  ship  had  Skilled,  and  13  wound- 
ed. The  Comet  put  into  Porto  Rico  to  refit,  and  thf 
Hibernia  arrived  at  St.  Thomas,  both  much  injured. 

Brig  Tullock,  of  200  tons,  10  guns,  from  Shields  for 
Martinique,  with  a  valuable  assorted  cargo,  sent  into 
Gloucester  by  the  Fox,  of  Salem. 

The  rich  ship  Minerva,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from 
Bristol  (England),  for  the  West  Indies,  was  captured 
by  the  Fox,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Sloop ,  captured  by  the  General  Stark.     She  was 

subsequently  cast  away  on  Cape  Cod,  and  lost. 

Schooner  Harmon}',  of  Yarmouth,  N.  S.,  with  a  few 
puncheons  of  rum,  captured  by  the  privateer-boat  Ter- 
rible, of  Salem,  and  sent  into  an  Eastern  port. 

Boat  Ilumbird,  laden  with  crockery,  etc.,  taken  by 
the  privateer-boat  Surprise,  and  sent  into  Machias. 

A  valuable  brig  was  captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Salem,  on 
her  late  cruise,  manned  and  ordered  for  the  United 
States.  Two  days  after  the  privateer  had  left  her,  she 
was  fallen  in  with  by  two  French  frigates.     Captain 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


IG^ 


Danieroll,  the  prize-master,  supposing  them  to  he  Kng- 
lisli,  hoisted  a  »Swedisli  fUig.  But  the  Frencli  Commo- 
dore sent  a  boat  on  board,  ordering  the  ofFicer  to  set 
fire  to  her  immediately,  as  there  were  three  otlier  ves- 
sels in  sight,  which  was  done,  under  the  belief  that  she 
was  a  Swedish  vessel.  When  the  prize-master  and  his 
crew  were  carried  on  board,  and  the  matter  was  duly 
represented,  the  Commodore  expressed  his  regret  for 
what  had  happened,  and  told  the  prize-master  that  the 
next  vessel  he  took  should  be  given  him  in  compensa- 
tion for  the  brig  destroyed.  On  the  same  day,  the  fri- 
gates captured  the  Portuguese  brig  Prince  Regent,  from 
Xew  Haven,  bound  to  Cayenne,  with  a  cargo  of  flour, 
lumber,  etc.,  and  according  to  promise,  she  was  given  up 
to  Captain  Damerell  and  crew,  fov  reasons  before  stated. 
Tl»e  Prince  Regent  being  short  of  vvater,  Capt.  Damerell 
put  into  St.  Barts,  where  he  found  the  owner  of  the  ves- 
sel, who  immediately  claimed  her  as  his  property,  and 
after  an  investigation,  the  Governor  ordered  her  to  be 
restored  to  her  former  owner. 

A  British  vessel  laden  with  sugar,  a  prize  to  the 
Comet,  of  Baltimore,  being  short  of  provisions,  lately 
put  into  Porto  Rico  for  a  supply.  But  the  government 
seized  and  gave  her  up  to  the  English  claimant. 

The  privateer  Diomede,  Crowningshield,  arrived  at 
Salem,  after  a  short  cru-se,  in  which  she  captured  and 
manned  six  vessels  belonging  to  the  enemy.  She  also 
brought  in  35  prisoners. 

The  privateer  schooner  Yiper,  Captain  D.  Dithurbide, 
of  this  port,  sailed  from  Charleston  on  the  24tli  of  Feb- 
ruary, on  a  cruise,  and  arrived  at  New  Bedford  on  Fri- 
day, March  4th,  having  made  three  prizes,  viz.,  the 
British  ship  Victory,   burthen  300  tons,  mounting  10 


h. 


!! 


1G8 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[isia 


Julius,  and  13  men,  from  Jamaica  for  Liverpool,  laden 
with  484i  bales  of  cotton,  140  tons  of  logwood,  170  tier- 
ces, 280  bags  of  coffee,  16  ceroons  of  indigo,  (twelve  of 
which  she  brought  in),  8  casks  of  white  lead,  and  three 
casks  of  castor-oil.  8he  was  a  new  vessel,  coppered  to 
the  bends,  and  cost  £13,000,  sterUng  ; 

British  schooner  Nelson,  of  Halifax,  from  St.  Thomas, 
with  50  puncheons  of  rum  ; 

Spanish  schooner,  Rosa,  from  Bermuda,  with  84  hhds., 
17  tierces,  and  74  bbls.  of  sugar,  with  British  hcense. 
These  vessels  wore  all  ordered  into  port.  Capt.  Dithur- 
bide  also  brought  in  14  prisoners. 

Notwithstanding  Admiral  Warren  had  declared  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  under  a  strict  blockade,  still,  in  March, 
1814,  from  50  to  GO  Baltimore  privateers  were  cruising 
in  ahnost  every  sea,  laughing  at  John  Bull's  paper 
blockades,  and  sending  rich  prizes  into  the  ports  along 
the  Atlantic  board. 

During  the  week  ending  March  2Gth,  many  valuable 
American  vessels  arrived  in  the  ports  of  the  United 
States. 

The  privateers  Comet  and  Chasseur,  of  Baltimore  with 
other  vessels  belonging  to  that  port,  were  doing  a  great 
business  in  the  West  Indies.  It  was  stated  that  the  for- 
mer had  taken  19  prizes  on  her  last  cruise.  The  latter 
had  made  six  prizes,  five  of  which  she  burnt,  after  di- 
^■esting  thf.m  of  their  valuable  articles.  The  Comet  had 
been  into  an  out-port  of  Tortola,  and  cut  out  several 
vessels.  ' 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  was  owned  by  a  Mr.  Preble, 
an  American  gentleman,  at  that  period  residing  in  Paris. 
She  had  been  thirty-seven  days  at  sea,  during  which  she 
captured  twenty-seven  vessels,  and  made  two  hundred 


1813.] 


TIIK    AMKIIICAN    PRIVATRKRS. 


IGO 


and  seventy  prisoners.  While  on  this  cruise  she  took  an 
ishmd  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  held  it  six  days  ; 
she  also  took  a  town  in  Scotland,  and  burned  seven  ves- 
sels in  the  harbor.  She  was  soon  after  fitted  out  to 
make  another  cruise  in  company  with  the  I  Junker  Hill, 
of  14  ei<2;htcen-pounders  and  140  men.  When  tiie  Truc- 
IJlooded  Yankee  arrived  in  France  she  was  laden  with 
the  following  spoils  : — 18  bales  of  Turkey  carpets,  43 
bales  of  raw  silk,  weighing  twelve  thousand  i)Ounds  ; 
20  boxes  of  gums,  40  packs  of  the  best  skins,  24  packs 
of  beaver  skins,  160  dozen  of  swan  skins,  190  hides, 
copper,  etc. 

Schooner  Mary,  of  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Mace- 
donian, letter-of-marque  of  Baltimore,  and  ransomed. 

Sloop, ,  from  Jamaica   for   the   Spanish   Main, 

(!aptured  by  the  Hope,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  di- 
vested of  a  quantity  of  dry-goods,  and  given  up. 

Schooner  Curfew,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  from  Nova 
Scotia  for  St.  Lucia,  sent  into  Marblehead  by  the  Alfred 
of  Salem. 

Brig  Tercilla,  laden  with  fish,  from  St.  John's,  New- 
foundland for  Bermuda,  captured  by  ditto  and  burnt. 

Ship ,  full  built  vessel  of   500   tons,   sent  into 

Beaufort,  N.  C,  by  the  Chasseur  of  Baltimore,  from 
Liverpool  for  Pensacola,  with  a  large  cargo  of  crockery, 
hardware,  white  lead,  dry-goods,  etc.  She  was  under 
Swedish  colors,  but  the  property  was  unquestionably 
British,  from  the  papers  found  on  board  of  her. 

Ship ,  of  400  tons,  armed  with  1 2  long  twelve- 
pounders,  from  Smyrna,  with  an  immensely  valuable 
cargo  of  Turkey  goods,  sent  into  the  Isle  of  Batz, 
(France,)  by  the  True-Blooded  Yankee. 

Ship ,  of  400  tons,  16  guns,  nine-pounders,  with 

a  full  cargo  of  hides,  tallow,  etc.,  from  Buenos  Ayres, 


170 


THK     AMKUICAN     I'UIVATKKIiS. 


fl8J3. 


soul  into  Abrovacli,  (Franco,)  by  the  Tnio-liloodod 
Yaiikoo. 

Those  arc  in  addition  to  the  prizes  already  stated  to 
have  been  made  by  tiiis  astonishing  vessel.  »She  arrived 
at  lirest  lull  of  the  richest  spoils  of  the  enemy. 

Armed  schooner  from  Halifax,  formerly  tiie  American 
j)rivatecr  Kldridge  (jlerry,  of  Tortland,  laden  with  lisli 
and  oil,  sent  into  Cape  Francois,  by  a  lialtimore  letter- 
of-rnarque. 

Ship ,   laden  with  urj'-goods,  etc.,  captured  by 

the  Ielter-of-mar([ue  schooner  Delille,  of  Baltimore, 
on  her  passage  from  Bordeaux  to  New  Orleans,  and 
sunk.  The  Delille  had  i)reviously  cai)tured  and  manned 
a  very  valuable  vessel,  and  could  not  spare  liands  to 
navigate  the  second  prize. 

Schooner  Mary  k  Joseph,  from  Grenada  for  St. 
Thomas,  with  sixty-six  liogsheads  of  rum  and  seven  of 
sugar,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Diomede. 

Brig  Bykar,  laden  with  earthenware,  hollow-ware, 
etc.,  sent  into  Gloucester  by  the  Fox. 

Schooner  Hope,  sent  into  Bristol  by  the  Diomede, 
with  a  cargo  of  rum,  sugar  and  lime-juice. 

Schooner  Susan  k  Eliza,  of  Bermuda,  laden  with 
120,000  lbs.  of  cotlee,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by 
the  Mars,  of  New  Y^ork. 

Schooner ,  called  a  Spaniard,  but  with  a  British 

license  ;  a  good  i>rizc,  sent  into  Newport  by  the  Viper. 

Schooner ,  valuable,  laden  with  dry-goods   and 

provisions,  sent  into  North  Carolina  by  the  Fairy  of 
Baltimore. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into 

Newport  by  the  Viper. 

Ship ,  under  Russian  colors,  from  Pensacola  for 

London,  laden  with  1,100  bales  of  cotton,  sent   into 


1813.] 


TiiK    AMi:iu(\\N    puivatf:kiis. 


171 


Savaniiali  liy  tlio  Sjiucy  .fuck,  of  (Miurlcston  ;  (uirgo 
supposoil  to  bo  liritish. 

Tliu  total  iHimhor  of  pri/os,  for  tlio  lust  four  wouks, 
sati'ly  arrivod  or  satisfactorily  accountotl  for,  amounts  to 
tliirty-nino  vessels:  estimated  value,  two  millions  and 
seventy  thousand  dollars,  [$2,070,000.] 

Brij^'  Superb,  with  a  eargo  of  salt,  sent  into  Charles- 
ton, by  the  Mars  of  New  York. 

I3ri<j; Friends,  of  Halifax,  from  (Grenada,  with  112  pun- 


cl 


of 


taken  by  the   Diomede,  of  Sale 


leons  01  rum  ;  laKcu  Dy  lue   uiome 
chased  on  shore  on  Long  Island,  by  three  men-of-war. 
The  cargo  was  saved. 

Schooner  Sea-Flower,  ea})tured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Tuckahoe,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  to  Aux 
Cayes,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Hazard,  from  Nassau,  for  St.  Domingo,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

The  Tuckahoe  also  captured  another  FiUglish  vessel, 
(whoso  name  is  not  given),  which  prize  she  manned 
and  sent  into  port.  The  Tuckahoe  narrowly  escaped 
capture  off  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  having  been 
chased  for  several  days  by  sundiy  English  frigates  and 
brigs-of-war.  vShe,  however,  by  su})orior  sailing,  and 
good  management,  eluded  their  grasp,  and  got  safe 
into  Boston,  in  March,  1814. 

Brig  Sovereign,  of  and  for  Liverpool,  of  300  tons, 
with  an  assorted  cargo.  Sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the 
America,  of  Salem. 

Schooner  William,  laden  with  sugar,  coffee  and  mo- 
lasses, from  Martinique  for  St.  Thomas.  She  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Diomede,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 


CHAPTER    VI 


IIBHPRBATK  HATTLK  FOldllT  IIKTWKKN  TU  HUN  I'RIVATFKU-HCIIOONKll  DKCATUH,  Of 

CIIAUMMTON,  CAlTAfN  DIIION,  AND  illN  lANNU'  MAJRHTY'H  HCIKKINKK  DOMINICA,  ON 

THKrmi  AJOIHT,  I  Hill  HAt'K  AllttlVAI.OKTIlK  DKCATtIt  AMI  IIKlt  I'UIZK  AT  CIIAUM.S  TON 
KKMAIIKH  ON  TIIKIIATTI.K  TIIK  IlKCATt'll  SAILS  ON  A  KIIKSII  ClIllSH  FltOM  CHAll- 
MHTON,  ON  TIIK  'iliTII  NOVKMHKH  —  VOVACIK  TO  KItANCK  IN  I.KTTKU-Ol'-MAlKiUK, 
8CII0ONKR  DAVII*  roUTKIt,  (IKOKOK  CoaOKhllAM,,  (;oMMAM>KII,  UIAIIH  AT  IMIOVIDKNCK, 
IIIIODK  ISLAM)  BAILM  UtoM  NKWl'OUT  ('IIASKD  Ol  K  (?IIAULt:STON  AUIlIVl'.S  AT  THAT 
PORT — 8AII-H  niOM  CIIAKLjaTON  FOR  KIIANCH— U)HS  OK  KIIIST  rUIZK  TtaiBIUI.K  UAI.K  IN 
TUB  HAY  OK  HIHt'AY-  TIIK  HCIKMlNKIl  THllOWN  ON  IlKIl  IIKAM-KNIW  AlllllVKS  AT  LA 
TKHTK  HUOUT  CIllMSK  in  TIIK  hay  OK  BISCAY— MAKK.S  SKVKUAL  (^\I'T^HK.S  AltUlVKJt 
AT  L'iLK  niKIT — BEMARK8  ON  THAT  ISLANIl — DIKKICDLTIEH  AT  HOHDKALX  IIlltUIilH 
AWAY  KIIOM  LA  TKHTK  VISIT  TO  LA  ROOIIKLLK-  HUIU  IDa'h  K.SCAI'K  KROM  LA  ROCIIKLLK 
— AC(;oUN''.  OK  TIIK  CAniRE  OK  TUB  BlUTIHU  HIIIH  MARY  BY  TUB  BATTLKHNAKK- 
VISIT  TO  BORDKAUX   AND   I'AUIS. 

DESPERATI'l  HATTr.E,  FOUQUT  BFT'WEEN  THE  AMERICAN  SCIIOONIOR- 
TRIVATEER  DECATUR,  OE  '  ULESTON,  CAPTAIN  DOMINIQUE 
DIRON,   AND   HIS   BRITANNK  ^estY'S    SCHOONER     DOMINICA 

COMMANDED  BY  LIEUTENANT  ai'.ORGE  WILMOT  BARRETrE. 


The  Decatur  was  armed  with  6  twelve-pound  car- 
roiiades,  and  1  long  eighteen-pounder  on  a  pivot  amid- 
ships, with  a  crew  of  103  men,  including  the  officers. 

Captain  Barrette's  vessel  had  12  twelve-pound  carron- 
ades,  2  long-sixes.  1  brass  four-pounder,  and  a  thirty- 
two-pound  carronade  on  a  pivot,  with  a  crew  of  88  men 
and  officers. 

The  Decatur  was  cruising  in  the  track  of  the  West 
India  traders,  on  their  return  passage  to  England.  On 
the  5th  of  August,  1813,  when  in  latitude  23^4'  N. 
longitude  about  GT^O'  W.,  during  the  early  part  of  the 
morning,  the  Decatur  was  steering  to  the  Northward, 
under  easy  sail.    At  half-past  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 

(172) 


[ina. 


AMFUICAN   I'lUVATFKnS. 


1Y3 


the  man  ut  tho  inuHtluMid  (li.scovcred  two  sail,  })Oiirin^ 
about  South,  when  the  Decatur  tackiMl  to  tho  soutliward, 
to  get  tlio  weather-gago,  and  hy  ho  doing,  ancertain  the 
cliaracter  of  tho  two  strangers. 

At  I'leven  o'elock,  they  were  nnide  out  to  be  a  sliip  and 
iiHcliooner,  standing  to  tlie  Northward.  At  liaif'-paHt 
twelve  (noon),  being  a  httle  to  the  windward,  and  not 
I'ar  distant,  the  Decatur  wore  round  and  ran  a  little 
to  tho  looward,  when  the  strange  schooner  set  English 
colors. 

At  one  P.M.  tho  privateer  wore  again,  still  keeping  to 
windward  of  his  adversary.  In  the  course  of  about 
half  an  hour,  the  strange  schooner  fired  a  shot  at  the 
Decatur,  but  without  ofTect.  Captain  Diron  then  beat 
to  quarters,  and  prepared  for  boarding  the  enemy. 

After  having  loaded  all  his  groat  guns  and  small  arms, 
he  hoisted  American  colors,  having  previously  got  on 
deck  all  the  necessary  ammunition,  water,  etc. 

He  'hen  ordered  all  the  hatches  secured,  so  that  no 
persoii  <"ould  leave  tho  deck,  and  with  Ids  grappling 
irons  re,  ly,  bori  down  upon  the  enemy.  Tlis  plan  was 
to  discharge  all  his  guns,  both  great  and  small,  and  then 
board  his  adversary  hi  the  smoke. 

For  this  purpose,  at  about  two  o'clock,  Captain  Diron 
wore  ship,  in  order  to  pass  under  the  stern  of  his  oppo- 
nent, and  give  him  a  raking  fire.  As  they  neared  each 
other,  the  Englishman  luffed  to,  and  gave  the  privateer 
a  broadside,  but  the  most  of  his  shot  passed  over  her. 
At  a  quarter  past  two,  Captain  Diron  fired  his  long  tom 
which  fire  the  enemy  returned  from  his  main-deck  bat- 
tery. Captain  D.  continued  to  discharge  his  long  gun, 
a  second  and  third  time,  and  behig  now  within  half- 
gunshot  distance,  it  must  have  done  the  enemy  much 
damage. 


I7t 


TIIK    AMIUUCAN  PRIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


As  the  English  schooner  evinced  a  disposition  to  run 
to  leeward,  Captain  Diron  was  fearful  that  he  wished  to 
make  his  escape.  To  prevent  ^his,  the  Decatur  filled 
away  to  bring  his  bowsprit  over  the  stern  of  his  anta- 
gonist, but  to  counteract  this  manoeuvre,  the  English 
schooner  gave  him  a  whole  broadside,  which  fortunately 
for  him,  only  injured  a  p'^rtion  of  his  rigging  and  sails. 

The  Decatur  answered  the  broadside  by  again  giving 
him  a  shot  from  his  long-tom,  at  the  same  time  order- 
ing the  boarders  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning,  to 
rush  on  board  of  the  enemy,  should  an  opportunity  offer, 
it  was  now  about  a  quarter  to  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  as  the  privateer  approached  to  board,  three 
cheers  were  given  by  the  crew  ;  when  the  English 
schooner  gave  the  Decatur  a  ^\hole  broadside,  which 
killed  two  of  her  crew,  and  materially  injured  the  sails 
and  rigging. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  privateer  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  of 
musketry.  The  Englishman  then  kept  away,  to  prevent 
being  boarded,  while  the  Decatur  followed  close  under 
his  stern,  to  avoid  another  broadside  from  him^  and  lose 
not  a  moment  in  boarding  him. 

In  this  manner  the  conflict  was  kept  up,  and  another 
attempt  made  to  board,  but  it  was  again  repulsed.  Capt. 
Diron  then  ordered  the  drum  to  beat  for  the  boarders, 
and  the  crew  cried  out  to  let  thein  board. 

The  Decatur's  bowsprit  was  forced  over  the  stern  of 
the  enemy,  and  her  jib-boom  pierced  through  the  main- 
sail of  the  English  schooner.  It  was  now  half-past  three 
o'clock.  While  the  fire  of  the  musketry  was  being  kept 
up  by  a  portion  of  the  privateer's  crew,  the  rest  rushed 
from  the  bow-sprit  on  board  the  Dominica.  A  terrible 
scene  of  slaughter  and  bloodshed  then  ensued  ;  the  men 
fought  with  swords,  pistols,  and  small  arms.    In  short,  it 


[1813. 

to  rnn 
Bhed  to 
ir  filled 
s  anta- 
English 
mately 
d  sails, 
giving 
order- 
ing, to 
ly  offer. 
J  after- 
,  three 
^]nglish 
which 
le  sails 

fire  of 
>revent 

under 
nd  lose 

nother 

Capt. 

arders, 


;ern  of 
1  main- 
t  three 
gkept 
rushed 
errible 
le  men 
hort.  it 


1813.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


175 


T. 


O 

a. 

a 

u: 
O 

o 

X 

(J 


-o 
c 
ra  -I 

a. 

h- 

<  <| 
o  -I 

ui    '.I 

cr 


o 
c 


(J 


was  a  hand  to  hand  combat,  and  was  well  sustahied  on 
both  sides,  until  Capt.  Barrctte  and  his  principal  officers 
were  cither  killed  or  wounded. 

Mr.  Vincent  Safifth,  first-prize  master,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Wasborn,  quarter-master,  were  the  first  two  of  the  De- 
catur's crew  who  got  on  board  of  the  English  schooner. 

This  action  was  one  of  the  hardest  contested  battles 
on  record.  Both  parties  fought  with  unparalleled  vigor 
and  desperate  courage.  The  decks  were  covered  with 
the  dead  and  wounded.  The  conquerors  themselves 
hauled  down  the  English  colors.  On  board  the  Deca- 
tur there  were  five  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  On 
board  the  Domhiica,  thirteen  killed  and  forty-seven 
wounded,  five  of  whom  died  soon  after  the  action  ;  mak- 
ing altogether  sixty  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  the  killed  was  the  commander,  Gr.  W.  Bar- 
rette,  Mr.  J.  Sacker,  sailing-master,  and  Mr.  D.  Brown, 
purser.  Mr.  Archer  and  Mr.  Parry,  midshipmen,  were 
wounded. 

The  only  officers  not  killed  or  wounded  were  the  sur- 
geon and  one  midshipman.  The  first  Lieutenant  was  on 
shore  sick. 

When  the  two  schooners  separated,  the  rigging  and 
sails  of  both  vessels  were  in  a  very  bad  condition.  To 
restore  and  repair  daniages,  and  look  after  the  wounded, 
was  the  first  care  of  Capt.  Diron,  his  officers,  and  crew. 

On  returning  to  Charleston  with  his  prize,  Capt.  Diron 
made  the  land  near  Georgetown,  ran  down  along  the 
shore,  and  crossed  Charleston  bar  without  meeting  an 
enemy.  For  several  days  previous  to  his  arrival,  there 
had  been  two  English  men-of-war  brigs  cruising  off  the 
harbor,  but  fortunately  for  him,  they  had  steered  awa}'' 
to  the  southward,  so  that  he  had  time  to  enter  the  port 
without  being  molested. 


17C 


THE    AMKIIICAN    TUIVATEERS. 


[1813. 


Captain  Biroii  was  a  fortunate  man  in  more  respects 
than  one,  for  the  day  after  capturing  the  Dominica,  lie 
fell  in  with,  and  took  without  resistance  the  British  ship 
London  Trader,  from  Surinam  bound  to  London.  She 
had  on  board  a  valuable  cargo,  consisting  of  209  hhds. 
of  sugar,  140  tierces  of  molasses,  55  hhds.  of  rum,  700 
bags  of  coffee,  and  00  bales  of  cotton.  The  prize  arrived 
safe  in  Savannah,  on  the  same  day  that  Captain  Diroii 
reached  Chareston. 

During  the  combat  between  the  Decatur  and  the  Do- 
minica, which  lasted  over  an  hour,  the  British  govern- 
ment packet  Princess  Charlotte  remained  a  passive 
spectator  of  the  scene.  As  soon  as  the  two  schooners 
were  disengaged  from  each  other,  she  tacked  about,  and 
stood  to  the  southward.  She  left  St.  Thomas  bound  to 
England,  under  convoy  of  the  Dominica,  to  a  certain 
latitude,  and  from  thence  to  proceed  on  her  course 
alone. 


EEMARKS  ON  THE  BAITLK 

The  surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  attributed  the 
loss  of  their  vessel,  to  the  superior  skill  of  the  Decatur's 
crew  in  the  use  of  musketry,  and  to  Captain  Diron's 
adroit  manner  in  manoeuvring  his  schooner  during  the  ac- 
tion, which  rendered  their  carriage  guns  in  a  manner, 
almost  useless. 

Captain  Barrette  was  a  brave  young  man,  not  more 
than  twenty-five  years  of  ago.  He  was  woimded  early 
in  the  action,  by  two  musket-balls  in  the  left  arm,  but 
he  fought  till  the  last  moment,  refusing  to  surrender  his 
vessel,  although  urged  to  do  so  by  the  few  survivors  of 
his  crew.  He  declared  several  times  his  determination 
not  to  survive  the  loss  of  his  schooner. 

One  of  the  Lieutenants  of  the  Decatur  received  a  se- 


1813.1 


THE   AMERICAN    i'llIVATEERS. 


177 


vcro  sabre  wound  in  tlic  hand,  from  C^aptain  Barrcttc,  a 
few  moments  before  he  felh 

It  was  acknowledged  by  the  Enghsh  prisoners,  that 
during  tlieir  captivity,  they  were  treated  with  great 
liindnes,s  and  humanity  by  Captain  Diron,  his  olFicers 
and  crew  ;  and  that  the  utmost  care  and  attention  were 
paid  to  the  sick  and  wounded. 

The  crew  of  the  captured  vessel  were  all  line  looking 
young  men.  There  were  among  them  eight  or  ten  boys. 
To  see  this  youthful  crew  on  their  arrival  at  Charleston, 
in  their  mangled  condition,  was  enough  to  freeze  the 
blood  with  horror,  of  any  person  not  accustomed  to  such 
sanguinary  scenes. 

Among  the  crew  was  a  small  boy,  not  eleven  years 
old,  who  was  twice  wounded  while  contending  for  vic- 
tory on  the  deck  of  the  Dominica. 

The  writer  of  this  action  was  in  Cliarlestou  soon  after 
tlie  Dominica  was  brought  into  that  port,  and  heard  the 
most  of  what  he  has  narrated,  from  those  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  particulars  of  this  bloody  conflict. 
He  also  saw  daily,  one  of  the  wounded  English  midship- 
men, with  his  arm  in  a  sling,  who  had  the  privih'ge  of 
walking  about  the  city,  on  his  parole  of  honor. 

The  famous  privateer  Decatur,  Captain  Diron,  sailed 
from  Charleston  on  a  new  enterprise,  the  same  day  that 
the  writer  of  this  article  arrived  there. 

It  was  with  unfeigned  pleasure  I  witnessed  the  de- 
parture of  the  brave  Diron  in  pursuit  of  fresh  laurels, 
and  in  sincerity  wished  him  a  successful  cruise. 


VOYAGE  TO  FRANCE  IX  THE  LEITER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  DAVIU 

PORTER. 

On  the  20 ih   of  October,  1813,  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  David  Porter,  of  New  York,  was  lying  at  Pro- 
12 


178 


THE    AMERICAN    rUlVATKEIlS. 


\18lli. 


vidciicc,  11.  I,,  taking  in  an  assorted  cargo  for  Charles- 
ton. She  was  a  fnie,  last-saihiig  vessel  of  about  200 
tons  burthen,  armed  with  a  long  18  pound  centre  gun, 
four  six  pounders,  muskets,  boarding  pikes,  etc.,  etc., 
etc.,  and  was  commanded  by  George  Coggeshall.  At 
this  time  the  U.  S.  frigate  President,  Commodore  Rod- 
gers,  was  lying  in  this  port,  lie  had  recently  arrived 
from  a  cruise,  and  had  discharged  the  most  of  his  men. 
From  among  them  I  obtained  the  greatest  part  of  my 
petty  oflicers  and  seamen,  amounting  in  all  to  thirty 
souls.  Having  linished  loading  the  schooner,  I  sailed 
down  the  river  to  Newport,  to  get  ready  to  leave  port, 
and  wait  for  a  favorable  opportunity  to  proceed  to  sea.  At 
this  period  there  were  several  p]nglish  liue-of-battle  ships 
and  frigates  cruising  directly  olT  Newport,  to  blockade 
Commodore  Rodgers  and  prevent  him  from  going  to 
sea.  Wherever  there  was  one  American  frigate  in  any 
of  our  ports,  the  English  generally  kept  several  seventy- 
fours  and  frigates  to  watch  and  blockade  it. 

The  merchantmen  and  letters-of-inarque,  at  thi.s 
period,  when  ready  for  sea,  were  generally  obliged  to 
wait  foi  bad  weather  or  dark  nights  to  leave  port.  This 
was  my  case.  After  lying  a  few  days  at  Newport,  I 
sailed  towards  evening,  on  the  14th  of  November,  in  a 
thick  N.E.  snow-storm,  and  passed  through  the  British 
llect  in  darkness  and  obscurity,  and  fortunately,  without 
molestation.  I  made  the  best  of  my  way  towards  Char- 
leston. During  the  passage  I  was  chased  several  times 
by  British  ships  of  war,  for  our  coast  at  that  time  was 
lined  "r''.h  these  unwelcome  visitors.  I  however  was 
fortunate  enough  to  escape  them  all. 

At  day-light,  on  the  morning  of  the  2Gth  of  Novem- 
ber, in  ten  fathoms  water,  off  Cape  Roman,  saw  an  Eng- 
lish man-of-war  brig  just  out  of  gun-shot,  on   our  wea- 


I8in.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


179 


thcr  quarter.  He  iininodiatoly  made  sail  in  chase  of  us. 
The  wind  being  off  tlie  land,  to  the  N.N.E.,  tlic 
enemy  kept  to  windward,  close  along  shore,  in  hopes  of 
driving  nie  oil"  to  leeward.  Just  out  of  sight  of  (^liarleston 
bar,  there  were  stationed  two  brigs-of-war,  but  being 
aware  of  the  ti'a[)  laid  for  me,  I  resolved  to  hug  the  wind, 
and  push  boldly  for  the  channel  at  the  bar,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  port,  and  defend  myself  the  best  way  I 
could. 

The  chase  from  off  Cape  Roman  to  (Jharleston  bar, 
lasted  about  four  hours,  during  which  time  I  had  gained 
but  very  little  on  the  encm} ,  When  I  hauled  up  for 
the  bar  upon  the  wind,  I  brought  the  Englishman  upon 
my  weather  beam,  at  long  gun-shot  distance.  To  as- 
certain whether  I  could  reach  him,  I  gave  him  a  shot 
from  long  Tom,  and  though  it  did  not  quite  hull  him, 
T  saw  the  shot  strike  so  near  him  that  it  dashed  the  water 
all  over  his  larboard  quarter. 

As  the  brig's  guns  were  carronades,  his  shot  could  not 
reach  us,  while  I  should  have  annoyed  him  with  our 
long  Tom,  had  he  thought  it  advisable  to  continue  the 
action.  Just  at  that  moment,  however,  the  famous  pri- 
vateer Decatur,  Capt.  Diron,  and  the  letter-of-marque 
Adeline,  Capt.  Craycroft,  of  Philadelphia,  were  crossing 
the  bar,  and  bearing  down  upon  the  brig,  all  three  of 
us,  with  our  ensigns  flying.  The  Englishman  probably 
thought  it  was  most  prudent  to  decline  the  combat,  and 
speedily  squared  his  yards,  and  ran  out  of  sight  to  lee- 
ward. 

The  Decatur  and  Adeline  steered  on  their  course  to 
the  eastward,  while  I  crossed  the  bar  and  proceeded  up 
to  Charleston.  Soon  after  my  arrival,  I  obtained  a  full 
freight  for  a  port  in  France,  consisting  of  331  bales  of 
cotton,  at  twenty-six  cents  per  pound,  with  five  per 


180 


THE    AMKUICAN    rillVATEEUS. 


[1813. 


cent,  primage.  Tlie  gross  freight  iind  primage  on  tliis 
small  cargo  of  cotton  amounted  to  twenty-three  thousand 
dollars,  Avhieh,  for  a  pilot-boat  schooner  of  200  tons, 
certainly  appears  like  an  enormous  freight  on  sea  island 
cotton,  when  the  article  could  at  that  time  be  purchased 
for  twelve  or  thirteen  cents  per  pound.  But  when  the 
expense  of  sailing  one  of  these  Icttera-of-marque  is  taken 
into  consideration,  the  freight  is  not  too  liigh.  The  in- 
suxance  at  that  time  was  from  fifteen  to  twenty  })er  (XMit . 
and  seamen's  wages  at  thirty  dollars  per  month,  and 
other  expenses  in  like  proportion. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  1  finished  loading,  and  got 
all  the  crew  on  board.  The  next  day  we  were  ready  for 
sea,  but  unfortunately  the  wind  blew  fresh  from  the 
southward,  with  dark,  disagreeable  rainy  weather. 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States  had  lately  assem- 
bled at  Washington,  and  great  fears  were  entertained  by 
many  that  sm  embargo  would  soon  be  laid.  I  was,  of 
course,  extremely  anxious  to  get  out  of  port,  as  such  a 
measure  would  have  been  ruinous  to  myself  and  the 
other  owners  of  my  vessel  ;  and  as  it  was  impossible  to 
get  over  the  bar  while  the  wind  was  blowing  strong,  di- 
rectly into  the  haibor,  to  avoid  being  stopped,  and  to 
keep  my  men  on  board,  I  judged  it  best  to  drop  as  low 
down  the  harbor  as  possible,  and  watch  the  first  favor- 
able moment  to  proceed  to  sea. 

Fortunately  the  weather  cleared  up  the  next  day,  and 
with  a  favorable  brceeze  and  fine  weather,  I  left  the  port 
of  Charleston  on  the  20th  of  December,  1813,  bound  to 
Bordeaux.  I  had  a  good  run  off  the  coast,  and  met  with 
nothing  worth  remarking  u.itil  the  27tli,  about  a  week 
after  leaving  port,  when  I  fell  in  with  a  small  English 
brig,  from  Jamaica,  bound  to  Nova  Scotia.  As  it  was 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  the  time 


1S13.] 


THE    AMKIIICAN    rUIVATEEIlS. 


181 


lilowiiij];  a  slroiig  gale  from  the  N.W.,  with  a  hij^li  sea 
running.  T  did  i:()t  think  it  safe  to  board  him  until  tlie 
gale  shouM  moderate,  and  the  sea  become  smoother, 
and  therefore  ordered  liim  to  carry  as  much  sail  as  pos- 
sible, and  lolloNV  me  on  our  course  to  the  eastward  until 
l)etter  weather.  He  relucitantly  followed,  and  once  bc- 
Ibre  dark,  [  was  ()l)Hged  to  hail,  and  give  him  to  under- 
stand, that  if  he  showed  too  great  a  disposition  to  lag 
behind,  or  did  not  carry  all  the  sail  his  brig  could  bear, 
he  would  feel  the  effect  of  one  of  my  stern-guns.  This 
threat  had  the  desired  effect,  and  he  followed  kindly  at 
a  convenient  distance,  until  midnight,  when  it  became 
vei'y  dark  and  squally,  and  we  soon  after  lost  sight  of  our 
first  prize,  which  I  did  not  much  regret,  as  I  could  not 
conveniently  spare  men  enough  to  send  him  into 
port. 

From  this  time  until  we  got  near  the  European  coast 
we  scarcely  saw  a  sail,  and  did  not  meet  with  a  single 
man-of-war.  Thus,  while  the  whole  coast  of  the  United 
States  was  literally  lined  with  English  cruisers,  on  the 
broad  ocean  there  were  very  few  to  be  seen  :  a  clear  proof 
that  the  risk  of  capture  between  Newport  and  Charles- 
ton, was  infinitely  greater  than  in  going  to  France. 

At  this  period  we  were  not  obliged  to  deliver  the 
goods  on  freight  at  any  particular  place,  but  at  any  port 
ill  France,  from  St.  Juan  de  Luce  to  Ostend.  My  bills 
of  lading  were  filled  up  on  this  principle,  to  "  Bordeaux, 
or  a  port  in  France,''  so  that  on  the  arrival  of  the  goods, 
the  owners  or  agents  were  bound  to  receive  them  at  any 
place  where  the  vessel  was  fortunate  enough  to  enter. 
My  object  was  to  get  as  near  Bordeaux  as  possible  ;  still 
I  did  not  like  to  attempt  entering  the  Garonne,  as  the 
English  generally  kept  several  frigates  and  smaller  ves- 
sels stationed  directly  off  the  Cordovan  Light,   which 


182 


THE   AMERICAN    PUIVATEEUS. 


[1814. 


rondorctl  it  oxtrcnioly  difficult  and  huziirdous.  I  there- 
fore decided  to  run  for  the  harbor  of  I^a  TchIo. 

About  a  week  before  we  ^'•ot  into  port,  while  in  the  Bay 
of  IViscay,  namely,  on  the  19th  and  20tii  of  January, 
wo  oncoiuitered  one  of  the  most  severe  gales  from  the 
westward  that  I  ever  cxi)erieneed.  It  commenced  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  and  blew  a  perfect  hurii- 
cano,  which  soon  raised  a  high  cross-sea  ;  at  8  o'clock, 
A.M.,  I  hove  the  schooner  to  under  a  double-reefed  fore- 
sail, lowered  the  fore-yard  near  the  deck,  and  got  every- 
thing as  snug  as  possible.  At  12  o'clock  noon,  a  tre- 
mendous sea  struck  her  in  the  wake  of  the  starboard 
fore-shrouds.  The  force  of  the  sea  broke  one  of  the 
top  timbers  or  staunchcons,  and  split  open  the  plank- 
sheer,  so  that  I  could  see  directly  into  the  hold.  The 
violence  of  the  blow,  and  the  weight  of  water  that  came 
on  board,  threw  the  vessel  iicarl}'-  on  her  beam-ends. 
Fortunately  the  foresail  was  split,  and  the  bulwarks  torn 
away  by  the  water,  and  being  thus  relieved,  she  gradually 
righted.  We  then  threw  overboard  two  of  the  lee-guns, 
water-casks,  etc.,  and  after  nailing  tarred  canvas  and 
leather  over  the  broken  plank-sheer,  got  ready  to  veer 
ship,  fearing  the  injury  received  in  the  wake  of  the  star- 
board fore-shrouds  would  endanger  the  foremast.  We 
accordingly  got  ready  to  hoist  a  small  piece  of  the  main- 
sail, and  then  kept  her  off  before  the  wind  for  a  few 
minutes,  and  watched  a  favorable,  smooth  tirne  to  bring 
her  to  the  wind  on  the  other  tack. 

During  the  time  that  the  schooner  ran  before  the 
wind,  she  appeared  literally  to  leap  from  one  sea  to 
another.  We  soon,  however,  brought  her  up  to  the 
wind  on  the  other  tack  without  accident  ;  and  thus, 
under  a  small  piece  of  the  mainsail,  she  lay  to  pretty 
well.     As  the  gale  contiued  to  rage  violently,  I  feared 


[1814. 
Lhcre- 


0  Ray 

luary. 

u  the 

early 

liuri'i- 

L'lock, 

i  I'ore- 

jvory- 

a  tro- 

boaril 

3f  the 

:)laiik- 

Thc 

:  came 

-ends. 

:s  torn 

dually 

-guns, 

IS  and 

)  veer 

Q  star- 

.  We 

main- 

a  few 

•  bring 

re  the 
sea  to 

to  the 
.  thus, 
pretty 
feared 


I. 


<r> 


IsH.) 


TIIK   AMKUUJAN    riilVATKKUS. 


183 


WO  mi^lii  Hliip  anolluM*  j^cn,  and  llicrc'loro  prcpanMl,  urt 
it  wore,  to  anchor  tho  vossol  licad  to  wind.  For  this 
|»Mr|)o.so  wc  took  a  .s((uaro-sail  Ixtoni,  spanned  it  at  each 
end  with  a  now  loni'-inch  rope,  and  ina(K'  onr  small 
howorcal)!*'  Caul  to  the  bi;:,ht  of  tlio  .span,  and  witli  tlio 
othor  ond  lastoncd  to  tho  I'oronia.st,  throw  it  ovorhoard, 
and  i)ayod  out  al)out  wixty  fatlioniH  of  ('al)lo  ;  she  tlioii 
rodo  liko  a  gnll  on  tlio  watoi",  and  I  was  absolutely 
iistonishod  to  see  tho  good  cllbot  of  thi.s  oxj)eriniont. 
Tho  spar  broko  tho  soa,  and  kopt  tho  .sohoonor  noarly 
head  to  tho  wind  until  tlu;  galo  subsided. 

Tho  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  January  20th,  wo 
iigain  mado  sail,  and  on  tho  2(ith,  six  days  after  this 
1tMn[)0st,  got  safe  into  La  Teste,  thirty-soveii  days  from 
Charleston,  While  wc  providentially  escaped  destruc- 
tion, other  ships  were  loss  fortunate  ;  many  vessels 
were  stiandod  and  wrecked  along  the  coast  ;  five  sail  of 
Knglish  tra!isports  were  thrown  on  shore  near  LaTost(>, 
and  most  of  their  crews  perished  in  tho  same  gale.  On 
my  ari'ival,  all  my  papers  wore  sent  up  to  Pai'is  ;  and 
although  we  were  all  well,  still  we  were  compelled  by 
the  government  to  I'ido  quarantine  for  six  days. 

After  this  was  accomplished,  I  landed  all  my  cotton, 
and  having  put  it  into  a  lai'go  and  convenient  ware- 
house, I  proceeded  directly  to  Bordeaux.  The  distance 
from  La  Teste  to  Bordeaux  is  about  thirty  miles,  and 
as  tho  roads  were  in  a  bad  state  at  this  season  of  tho 
year,  it  was  deemed  most  advisable  to  let  my  cargo  re- 
main at  La  Teste  until  some  favorable  change.  At  Bor- 
(leaux  every  thing  was  in  confusion,  as  Ihe  enemies 
of  France  wore  at  that  time  entering  tho  empire  in  al- 
most every  direction.  It  was  reported,  while  I  was 
there,  that  a  part  of  the  Russian  and  Austi'ian  ai'mios 
were  within   thirty  leagues  of  Paris,   and    that   Lord 


184 


THE     AMKIUCAN     PKISATEKRS. 


[1814. 


Wellington,  with  his  army,  was  in  the  Landes  in  pursuit 
of  Marshal  »Soult,  Vv  ho  was  on  his  way  to  Toulouse  ;  and 
great  fears  were  entertained  that  a  ^^irt  of  the  English 
array  would  soon  be  in  Bordeaux.  I  was  therefore  ex- 
tremely anxious  to  get  away  at  all  hazards,  not  knowing 
whether  the  English  would  respect  private  persons  and 
private  property. 

All  the  American  vessels  had  left  Bordeaux  for  fear 
of  the  English,  and  had  gone  down  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Garonne  ;  some  were  bound  home  to  America,  and 
others  strove  to  get  to  La  Rochelle,  as  that  v/as  a 
strongly  fortified  town,  and  would  probably  hold  out 
longer  thjm  this  place.  EvTry  day  brought  us  worse 
news  from  Paris  and  other  quarters,  and  from  present 
appearances  the  country  could  not  hold  out  much 
longer. 

In  this  state  of  things,  when  all  was  hubbub  and  con- 
fusion, the  merchants  were  luiwilling  to  advance  any 
portion  of  the  freight  on  the  cotton,  I  therefore  found 
it  difficult  to  obtain  sufficient  means  to  pay  my  neces- 
sary disbursements.  T,  however,  at  length  prevailed  on 
my  consignees,  Messrs.  Brun  frcrcs,  to  purchase  for  me 
one  hundred  casks  of  wine,  and  fifty  pipes  of  brandy, 
to  charter  a  small  coasting  vessel  to  carry  these  articles 
to  La  Rochelle,  and  wait  my  arrival  there.  They  also 
agreed  to  furnish  me  with  sufficient  funds  to  pay  my  out- 
fit at  La  Teste.  Having  made  these  arrangements,  I 
forthwith  proceeded  to  La  Teste  on  horseback. 

Ahhough  at  this  period  +he  Austrian  and  Russian 
armies  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paris,  and  Lord 
Wellington  at  the  head  of  a  victorious  army  overrun- 
ning the  south  of  France,  it  was  astoriishing  to  see  ho'-^ 
little  w'ls  known  to  the  country  people  of  this  region 
about  the  military  state  of  the  empire.     Perhaps  not  a 


18U.J 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEEUS. 


185 


man  in  a  thousand  kncM  tliat  there  was  a  Russian  or  an 
Enghsh  sol'lier  within  a  hundred  leagues  of  France. 

One  day,  in  passing  through  a  small  village,  I  stopped 
at  a  house  to  get  bomc  water,  and  found  a  poor  woman 
wringing  her  hands  and  weeping  as  though  her  heart 
would  break.  On  inquiring  the  cause  of  her  grief,  she 
said  :  "  Sir,  they  have  just  taken  away  my  son  to  join 
the  army,  and  I  have  already  lost  two  of  my  children 
ill  the  same  way.  Oh  !  I  shall  never  see  him  again  !" 
I  offered  the  poor  woman  all  the  consolation  I  could.  I 
told  her  I  was  a  stranger,  and  had  no  right  to  in- 
terfere with  the  affairs  of  another  nation,  but  at  the 
same  time,  if  she  would  keep  quiet,  I  could  assure  her 
that  there  \v'as  no  danger  of  losing  her  son — that  the 
wai"s  were  nearly  at  a?T  end,  and  that  peace,  in  all  human 
probability,  would  be  concluded  in  a  few  weeks,  when 
hor  son  v/ould  be  restored  to  her  again.  At  these 
words  the  poor  creature  was  completely  overjoyed,  and 
blessed  me  a  thousand  times.  When  T  mounted  my 
liorse  and  rode  off,  I  could  not  but  reflect  with  indigna- 
tion on  what  men  call  military  glory  ;  but  at  the  next 
moment  I  felt  self-reproved,  as  I  too  commanded  an 
armed  vessel,  and  expected  to  go  out  in  a  few  days  to 
distress  the  enemies  of  my  country.  How  strange  and 
inconsistent  is  poor,  short-sighted  man,  condemning 
otliers  when  committing  the  same  offence  for  which  he 
would  denounce  his  neighbor. 

The  state  of  affairs  in  France  daily  grew  worse  and 
worse.  Lord  Wellington  was  following  Marshal  Soult 
(lay  after  day,  towards  Toulouse.  We  also  received  bad 
news  from  the  north,  that  the  Austrians  and  Prussians 
were  daily  advancing  on  Paris,  and  were  then  within 
twenty  leagues  of  that  city. 

Under  this  state  of  things,  I  deemed  it  most  prudent 


186 


THE    AMHUICAN    PRIVATEERS , 


11811 


to  proceed  forlliwitli  to  La  Teste,  and  get  ready  Ibr  ai'ii 
as  soon  as  possible.  La  Teste  was  a  poor,  little  village, 
and  badly  supplied  with  articles  necessary  for  slii]) 
stores.  On  my  arrival  there,  I  found  no  other  ship  or 
vessel  lying  in  the  port,  and  no  stone  ballast  ;  I  was 
therefore  compelled  to  take  in  sand  in  my  own  boat, 
and  fill  up  our  water  casks  and  take  them  on  board  also 
in  the  same  way.  We  nad  no  biscuit  on  board,  and 
there  was  but  one  baker  of  any  consequence  in  the 
town.  I  hastened  to  this  important  character,  and 
agreed  to  take  all  the  bread  he  could  make  in  two  days, 
and  thus,  by  hurrying  and  driving,  I  got  ready  for  sea 
on  the  11th  of  March.  At  the  end  of  two  days  I  called 
on  the  baker  for  my  supply  of  bread,  when,  to  my  great 
mortification  and  disappointment,  I  could  get  only 
loaves  enough  to  (ill  two  bags,  and  this,  for  a  vessel 
bound  to  La  Ilochelle,  with  a  crew  of  thirty-five  in 
number,  was  certainly  a  very  small  allowance.  It  is 
true  I  had  salt  beef  and  pork  enough  on  board,  but  no 
vegetables  or  rice. 

On  the  11th,  in  the  evening,  by  letters  from  Bor- 
deaux, I  learned  that  the  day  before,  the  town  had  sur- 
rendered by  capitulation  to  a  portion  of  Lord  Welling- 
ton's army,  that  no  person  had  been  molested,  and  that 
perfect  good  order  was  observed  through  the  city.  All 
this  appeared  very  well  with  respect  to  Bord'^aux,  but 
still  I  was  fearful  that  the  English  would  come  down 
and  take  La  Teste  before  I  could  get  to  sea.  The  next 
day,  March  12ih.  the  wind  was  from  the  westward,  and 
the  pilot  would  not  take  my  vessel  to  sea.  He  said  that 
it  was  impossible  to  get  out :  that  there  was  too  great  a 
swell  on  the  bar,  etc.  The  next  day  (the  13th),  the 
weather  was  clear  and  the  wind  fresh  at  N'.N'.E.  In  the 
morning  I  prevailed  on  the  pilot  to  come  on  board.    He 


1814.] 


TIIK    AMERICAN    rRrVATEERS. 


187 


told  mc  that  the  tide  would  suit  at  five  o'clock  in  tlio 
afternoon,  and  if  there  should  not  be  too  much  sea  on 
the  bar  at  that  hour  he  would  take  the  vessel  out.  Ac- 
cordingly, at  four  o'clock,  I  requested  him  to  get  under 
way,  and  be  ready  to  pass  the  bar  at  five.  I  now  found 
he  was  unwilling  to  go  out  at  all.  He  said:  "  Cap- 
tahi,  if  we  should  succeed  in  getting  out,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  land  me."  I  then  ofiered  him  double  pilot- 
age, told  him  I  was  fearful  the  English  would  come 
down  in  the  morning  and  make  a  prize  of  my  vessel, 
and  that  I  would  treble  his  pilotage,  and  pledge  him  my 
honor,  that  if  I  waited  a  week  outside,  I  would  land 
him  in  safety.  At  last  my  patience  was  exhausted,  and 
I  found  the  more  I  coaxed  and  strove  to  persuade  him 
to  go,  the  more  obstinate  he  became.  At  length  I  said  : 
"  If  you  will  not  go  to  sea,  pilot,  just  get  the  schooner 
under  way,  and  go  down  below  the  fort,  and  anchor 
there  within  the  bar,"  To  this  proposition  he  consent- 
ed. While  getting  under  way,  I  went  below  and  put 
into  my  pocket  a  loaded  pistol,  and  again  returned  on 
deck.  We  soon  got  below  the  fort,  and  it  was  five 
o'clock,  precisely  the  hour  he  had  named  as  the  most 
suitable  to  pass  out  over  the  bar.  I  then  placed  the 
pistol  to  his  ear,  and  told  him  to  proceed  to  sea,  or  he 
was  a  dead  man  ;  and  that  if  the  schooner  took  the 
ground,  his  life  should  pay  the  forfeit.  The  poor  fellow 
was  terribly  frightened,  and  said  he  would  do  his  best ; 
and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  we  filled 
away,  we  were  fairly  over  and  outside  of  this  formida- 
ble bar.  I  then  discharged  the  pistol,  and  assured  the 
pilot  I  would  do  him  no  harm,  and  that  I  would  wait  a 
week,  if  it  was  necessary,  for  good  weather  to  land 
him  in  safety.  He  now  appeared  more  tranquil  and 
composed,  but  could  not  refrain  from  talking  occasion- 


188 


THE    AMERICAN    PKIVATEERS. 


fl8]4. 


ally  of  his  poor  wife  and  children,  and  seemed  to  have 
a  lurking'  fear  that  I  would  carry  him  to  America. 

I  stood  oir  and  on  during  the  night,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing, March  14th,  the  wind  was  light  off-shore,  from  the 
eastward  ;  as  the  sea  was  smooth,  1  stood  close  in  to  the 
heach,  and  got  our  boat  ready  to  land  the  i)ilot.  I  sent 
by  him  several  letters  to  my  friends,  and  an  order  on 
my  consignees,  for  a  considerable  sum  over  and  above 
his  regular  pilotage,  notwithstanding  I  had  compelled 
him  to  take  my  vessel  to  sea.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  my  second  officer,  with  four  men,  took  Mr. 
Pilot  on  shore.  I  gave  the  officer  of  the  boat  positive 
orders  to  back  the  boat  stern  on  to  the  shore,  and  let 
the  pilot  jump  out  whenever  he  could  do  so  with  safety. 
I  took  a  spy-glass,  and  had  the  pleasure  to  see  the  man 
land,  and  scamper  up  the  beach.  The  boat  soon  return- 
ed, and  was  hoisted  on  board,  when  we  made  sail  and 
stood  off  in  a  N.W.  direction,'''  The  wind  was  light 
from  the  eastward,  and  the  weather  fine  and  clear.  Dur- 
ing the  night  we  had  not  much  wind,  and  of  course 
made  but  little  progress. 

At  daylight,  March  15th,  1814,  saw  a  large  ship  on 
our  weather  quarter.  I  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a 
frigate,  distant  abou'.  two  miles.  We  were  now  in 
a  very  unpleasant  position,  early  in  the  morning  Avith  a 
frigate  dead  to  windward.  I  manoeuvred  for  some  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  in  hopes  of  drawuig  him  down  to  lee- 
ward, so  that  I  should  be  able  to  weather  him  on  one 
tack  or  the  other.  This  was  often  done  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  with  American  schooners,  for  if 
the  pilot-boats  could  succeed  in  getting  the  enemy  under 

*  For  a  more  detailed  account  of  this  cruise,  and  the  political  state  of 
France  at  that  period,  the  reader  will  please  see  Coggeshall's  Voyages,  pub- 
lished in  1853. 


[1814. 


1814.] 


THE    AMEUICAN    PRIVATEEKS. 


189 


liave 

morn- 
m  the 
to  the 
I  sent 
ler  on 
above 
ipelled 
ill  the 
ok  Mr. 
lositivc 
ind  M 
safety, 
lie  man 
return- 
ail  and 
iis  light 
'.  Dur- 
course 


ship  on 
be  a 

now  in 
with  a 

)mo  ten 
to  lec- 
on  one 

le  com- 
for  if 

ly  under 


'S, 


al  state  of 
yages,  pub- 


tlioir  lee,  they  would  laugli  at  their  adversary.  This 
manoeuvre  however  did  not  succeed,  ho  only  kept  ofl' 
four  or  six  points,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  tliought  it 
impossil)le  for  me  to  elude  his  grasp.  All  tliis  time  1 
was  losing  ground,  and  the  ship  not  more  than  two  gun- 
sliots  to  windward. 

I  held  a  short  consultation  with  my  officers  on  the 
subject  of  attempting  to  get  to  windward  (whicli  would 
involve  our  receiving  a  broadside),  or  of  running  off  to 
lei'ward.  They  all  thought  it  best  to  ply  to  windward, 
and  receive  liis  fire.  I  stated  that  we  should  have  to 
pass  him  within  pistol-shot,  and  the  probability  was  that 
he  would  shoot  away  some  of  oui  spars,  in  which  case 
we  should  inevitably  be  captured.  I  knew  the  schooner 
sailed  very  fast  off  the  wind,  and  I  thought  the  chance 
of  escape  better  to  run  to  leeward.  I  accordingly  gave 
orders  to  get  the  square-sail  and  studding-sails  all  ready 
to  run  up  at  the  same  moment ;  and  thus  when  every 
thing  was  prepared,  the  helm  was  put  up,  and  every 
square-sail  set  in  a  moment. 

The  frigate,  not  dreaming  of  my  running  to  leeward, 
was  unprepared  to  chase  off  the  wind,  and  I  should  think 
it  was  at  least  five  minutes  before  she  had  a  studding-sail 
set,  so  that  I  gained  about  a  mile  at  the  commencement 
of  the  chase.  The  wind  was  light  from  the  E.N.E.,  and 
the  weather  very  fine.  I  ordered  holes  to  be  bored  in 
all  the  water-casks  except  four,  and  the  water  pumped 
into  buckets  to  wet  the  sails  ;  also,  to  throw  overboard 
sand  ballast,  to  lighten  the  schooner.  After  tliis  was 
(lone,  wo  began  to  draw  away  from  the  frigate,  so  that  at 
noon,  I  had  gained  about  eight  or  ten  miles  on  the  chase. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon  he  was  nearly  out  of  sight,  and 
appeared  like  a  speck  on  the  water.  We  had  now  time 
to  look  into  our  own  situation,  when  to  my  great  regret, 


190 


THE    AMEUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


in  lieu  of  having  four  casks  of  water,  the  carpenter,  in 
the  confusion,  had  only  left  two  ;  and  as  the  wind  fresh- 
ened, 1  found  the  s(;liooner  so  light  that  it  was  unsafe  to 
haul  upon  the  wind. 

Sealaring  men  will  appreciate  what  was  my  unfortu- 
nate situation.  Thus  wide  off  to  sea  in  the  Bay  of  Bis- 
cay, in  a  light  vessel,  with  scarcely  ballast  enough  to  stand 
upon  her  bottom,  with  a  crew  of  twenty-five  men,  and  only 
two  casks  of  fresh  water  and  a  few  loaves  of  soft  bread. 

The  wind  was  ligh.t  during  the  uight,  and  towards 
morning  it  became  almost  calm.  At  daylight,  to  our 
unspeakable  joy,  we  were  in  the  midst  of  a  small  fleet 
of  merchant  ships.  They  had  left  England  under  convoy  of 
of  a  frigate  and  a  sloop-of-war,  and  had  separated  in  a  gale 
of  wind  a  few  days  before  I  fell  in  with  them.  This  little 
fleet  was  bound  to  St.  Sebastian,  and  many  of  them  were 
loaded  with  provisions  for  the  British  army.  The  first 
one  I  captured  was  a  brig,  principally  laden  with  provi- 
sions. After  taking  possession,  I  agreed  with  the  cap- 
tain, that,  if  he  would  assist  me  with  his  boats  and  men 
to  transport  his  cargo  from  his  vessel  to  my  schooner,  I 
would  let  him  go  ;  otherwise  I  would  take  what  I  want- 
ed and  destroy  his  brig.  Of  course  he  was  glad  to  make 
the  best  of  a  bad  bargain  ;  and  thus  with  the  boats  of 
both  vessels,  in  two  hours  we  had  provisions  enough  for 
a  three  month's  cruise.  His  cabin  was  filled  with  bags 
of  hard  biscuit,  the  staff  of  life,  which  wo  took  first,  and 
then  got  a  fine  supply  of  butter,  hams,  cheese,  potatoes, 
porter,  etc.,  and  last,  though  not  least,  six  casks  of  fresh 
water.  After  this  was  done,  the  captain  asked  me  if  1 
would  make  him  a  present  of  the  brig  and  the  residue 
of  the  cargo,  for  his  own  private  account,  to  which  I 
willingly  agreed,  in  consideration  of  the  assistance  I  had 
received  from  him  and  his  men. 


1814. 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


191 


sr,  in 
i'osh- 
ife  to 

fortu- 
r  Bis- 
8taiid 
(1  only 
bread. 
iWards 
to  our 
1  fleet 
ivoy  of 
I  a  ^ale 
is  little 
m  were 
10  first 
1  provi- 
le  cap- 
men 
foncr,  I 
want- 
make 
ats  of 
uffli  for 


I  .showed  him  my  commission  from  tlic  government  of 
the  United  States,  autliorizing  me  to  take,  burn,  sink, 
or  destroy  our  common  enemy,  and  satisfied  liini  that  he 
was  a  lawful  prize  to  my  vessel.  I  then  gave  him  a  cer- 
tificate, staling  that  though  liis  brig  was  a  lawful  prize, 
I  voluntai'ily  gave  her  to  him  as  a  present.  (This,  of 
course,  was  only  a  piece  of  tom-foolery,  but  it  pleased 
the  captain,  and  we  parted  good  friends). 

This  was  on  the  IGth  of  March,  the  day  after  my  es- 
cape from  the  British  frigate. 

1  had  now  got  as  much  water  and  provisions  as  I 
wanted,  and  made  sail  for  a  ship  and  two  brigs,  a  mile 
or  two  off  on  our  lee  beam.  Although  the  wind  was 
very  light,  I  soon  took  all  three  of  them,  and  made  the 
same  agreement  with  them  as  with  the  other  captain, 
that  if  thoy  would  assist  me  with  all  their  V)oats  and  men 
to  load  my  schooner,  with  sucli  part  of  their  cargo  as 
best  suited  me,  I  would  let  them  go,  otherwise  I  would 
send  them  into  port  as  prizes,  or  destroy  their  vessels. 
This  was  a  bitter  pill,  but  they  had  the  choice  of  two 
evils,  and  of  course,  complied  with  my  request.  Wa 
soon  commenced  taking  out  of  these  prizes  all  sorts  of 
stores  designed  for  the  British  army,  viz.,  officer's  and 
soldier's  clothing,  cocked  hats,  opaulcttes,  small  arms, 
instruments  of  music,  etc.  Independent  of  these  warlike 
stores,  we  also  took  a  considerable  quantity  of  English 
cloths,  and  various  other  articles  of  merchandise.  A 
fresh  breeze  sprung  up  from  the  S.W.,  and  the  weather 
became  dark  and  rainy,  which  rendered  it  difficult  to  con- 
tinue transporting  any  more  goods  from  the  prizes  to 
our  schooner.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  large 
sliip  hove  in  sight  to  windward.  From  aloft,  with  a  spy- 
glass, I  clearly  made  her  out  to  be  the.  same  frigate  that 
had  chased  me  the  day  before.     I  recognized  her  from 


192 


THE   AMEIMCAN    I'llIVATKERS. 


[1814. 


the  oircuinsljiiirc  of  her  having  a  white  jib  ;  all  the 
sails  were  dark  colored  excoiti  this  jib,  which  was 
bleached. 

Wc  of  course  cleared  the  decks,  and  got  ready  for 
another  trial  of  speed,  but  as  my  schooner  was  now  in 
good  trim,  and  night  coming  on,  I  had  no  doubt  of 
dodging  him  in  the  dai'k.  lie  came  r{ii)idly  down,  within 
five  or  six  miles  of  us,  Avhen  I  ran  near  my  i)rizes,  and 
ordered  them  all  to  hoist  lanterns.  None  of  them  up  to 
this  time  had  seen  the  frigate,  and  thus,  while  the  lan- 
terns showed  their  positions,  I  hauled  off  silently  in  the 
dark.  Very  soon  after  this,  I  heard  the  frigate  firing  at 
his  unfortunate  countrymen,  while  we  were  partaking 
of  an  excellent  supper  at  theii"  expense. 

The  next  duy,  March  17th,  it  was  dark  and  rainy, 
with  strong  gales  from  the  P.W.  ;  saw  nothing.  Btood 
to  the  northward,  under  easy  sail,  waiting  for  better 
weather,  to  com[)lete  loading  my  little  schooner  with 
something  valuable  from  another  prize. 

I  would  hero  j'emark,  that  small  guns,  six  or  nine- 
pounders,  are  of  little  or  no  use  on  board  of  small  \cs- 
sels  ;  for  if  the  sea  is  rough,  they  cannot  be  used  at  all. 
I  have  found  them  of  no  service,  but  rather  in  the  way. 
My  only  dependance  was  on  my  eighteen-pounder. 
mounted  amidships,  on  a  pivot.  This  gun  I  could  use 
in  almost  amy  weather.  With  it,  and  forty  small  arms, 
1  found  no  difficulty  in  capturing  merchant  ships.  I  se- 
lected ten  of  the  largest  and  strongest  men  on  board  to 
work  the  centre  gun.  One  of  them  was  a  huge  black 
man,  about  six  feet  six  inches  in  height,  and  large  in 
proportion.  To  him  I  gave  the  command  of  the  gun. 
Although  so  powerful  a  man,  he  vvas  the  best  natured 
fellow  in  the  world,  and  a  general  favorite,  both  with 
officers  and  men. 


814. 


ISM.] 


Tim    AMERICAN    rUIVATEKRS. 


193 


was 

:  for 
iw  in 
it  ol' 
'illiin 
,  au<l 
\ip  to 
3  lan- 
m  the 
■ingat 
ukiug 

rainy, 

f^tood 

bcttov 

>r  with 

nine- 
ill  \  cs- 

at  all. 
e  way. 
»\n\(lcr. 
uld  use 
1  arms, 
I  se- 
oard  to 
I  black 
arge  in 
lie  gun. 
liatured 
th  with 


March  ISfh. — Still  a  continuation  of  bad  woa- 
thiM',  witli  a  strong  gale  to  the  westward.  At 
foin'  1'.  M.,  saw  a  frigate  and  a  brig  of  war  off  my  lee 
l)C'am,  distant  altont  five  miles.  Tliey  made  sail  in  cliuse, 
liiit  under  my  tliree  lower  sails,  mainsail,  foresail,  and 
jil),  I  had  no  fear  of  them.  I  showed  my  ensign  for  a 
lew  moments,  and  tlien  plied  to  windward,  making  short 
tacks,  and  in  a  few  hours  they  gave  up  the  chase,  when 
I  again  pursued  my  course  to  the  northward,  under  easy 
!<ail.  Next  day,  March  10th,  the  wind  moderated,  but 
still  there  was  a  very  high  sea,  and  unpleasant  wea- 
ther. 

March  20/Zt. — Moderate  breezes  from  the  westward,  and 
unpleasant  weathei'.  This  day  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
to  land  myself  somewhere  on  the  coast  of  France,  and  to 
scud  my  vessel  home,  under  the  command  of  my  first 
officer,  Mr.  Samuel  Nichols  ;  and  on  examination  of  a 
chart  of  the  coast,  I  concluded  to  run  for  Hie  Dieu, 
and  land  there.  Accordingly  I  .shaped  my  course  for 
the  Island,  and  without  meeting  with  any  incident  worth 
relating,  made  the  land  on  the  23d  of  March,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  at  six  ditto,  landed  on  the 
Island  in  my  own  boat.  It  soon  became  dark,  and  I 
was  obliged  to  remain  on  shore,  with  my  boat's  crew, 
all  night. 

I  took  with  me  my  clearance  and  other  papers  from 
Bordeaux,  with  sundry  newspapers,  and  was  well  re- 
ceived by  the  Governor  and  Conmiissary  of  Ma- 
rine. 

March  2ifh. — At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  although 
the  weather  was  thick  and  rainy,  and  a  strong  breeze 
from  the  S.W.,  I  sent  my  boat  on  board  the  schooner 
with  a  pilot,  with  orders  to  get  the  vessel  into  the  roads, 
near  the  town,  which  is  situated  on  the  N.E.  end  of 
13 


lot 


Tin:  AMi;iucAN  imuvatkkijs. 


[iSli. 


the  Lsliind.  At  two  o'dock  in  the  afternoon,  the  sdiooucr 
ciinie  (lii'ootly  off  the  town,  chwe  in  within  llie  Ibrt, 
wliore  witli  our  own  ])oat,  we  took  on  board  six  casks 
of  fresh  water,  some  frcsli  provisions,  and  smnhy  snuill 
stores.  I  then  obtained  hberty  from  tlie  public  autlior- 
ities  to  (hs})atcli  my  vessel  to  the  United  States. 

At  live  o'clock  in  the  aftei'noon  of  Marcli  21th,  1811, 
1  re[)aired  on  board  in  a  shore  boat,  and  wrote  a  few 
hasty  lettei's  to  my  friends  in  the  United  States.  After 
making  a  short  address  to  my  olhcors  and  men,  I  resif^n- 
ed  the  connnand  to  Mr.  Samuel  Nicliols,  my  first-lieu- 
tenant, and  promoted  my  brother,  Mr.  Chai'les  Cogges- 
hall,  who  was  second-lieutenant,  to  be  first-lieutenant, 
directing  them  to  proceed  directly  to  the  United  States. 
At  the  same  time,  I  requested  the  captain  to  fill  the 
schooner  witli  whatever  valuable  goods  he  should  be  en- 
abled to  take  from  the  enemy  on  his  return  passage 
home.  I  then  returned  on  slioi-e,  with  a  heavy  heart  at 
parting  with  my  little  baud  of  brave  and  faithful  fol- 
lowers. 

The  schooner  was  soon  out  of  sight,  as  she  stood 
round  to  the  south  end  of  the  island.  And  here  I 
should  be  doing  injustice  to  the  memory  of  these  brave 
men,  did  I  not  give  my  feeble  testimony  to  their  good 
conduct,  from  the  time  we  left  Charleston  until  parting 
with  them  at  I'llo  Dieu.  I  never  saw  one  of  them  in- 
toxicated in  the  slightest  degree,  nor  did  I  ever  see  one 
of  them  ill-treat  a  prisoner,  or  attempt  to  plunder  the 
smallest  article.  In  a  word,  from  the  first-lieutenant  to 
tlie  smallest  boy  on  board,  they  were  faithful,  good,  and 
true  men,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief, 
were  all  born  and  bred  in  the  United  States. 

After  my  schooner  sailed,  I  had  leisure  to  look  at  the 
island,  which  Hes  in  latitude  40^  42'  north,  longitude 


ISliJ 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    I'HIVATKKRS. 


195 


2°  27'  west.  It  is  five  leagues  from  the  coiilinciit,  ili- 
rt'ctly  oi)p()sltG  St.  Gilles,  and  is  of  a  modor.'iie  lioiii;lit, 
about  tlircc  milt's  loii^,  and  one  and  a  lisilf  broad.  Ft 
niinil)er.s  al)out  two  thousand  three  Innidred  souls,  and 
is  i)riii»'ip:illy  suiiported  l»y  liic  (isliiiiL!;  l)!isin('ss.  It  is 
clefenth'd  l)y  a  [jrott}'  .strong  fort  at  tlie  mouth  of  the 
liarhor,  with  a  garrison  of  al)out  tlu'ee  luni(h'ed  men. 
Its  produce  i.s  not  Huffieiont  for  its  own  supi>ort ;  on  the 
contrary,  T  wa.--"  told  ':v  several  of  the  iidiahitants  that  it 
only  yields  •  ut  ov  uarter  ])art  of  the  breadstulls 
tliiit  are  eon  ..med  .^y  its  .diabitants.  Ft  has  a  snug  lit- 
tle harbor,  but  only  aoeessiblc  to  .small  vessels  of  a  light 
draft  of  water.  The  prineipid  town  is  rather  ])leasant, 
and  many  of  the  houses  are  commodious  and  well 
Imilt. 

This  little  island  has  become  interesting  from  its  his- 
torical association. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1705,  an  English  .squadron 
brought  here  a  Bourbon  prince  and  several  thou.sand 
French  emigrants  from  England,  to  join  the  royal  party 
of  La  Yendt'e  ;  and  after  the  fleet  of  men-of-war  and 
transports  had  remained  here  until  about  the  1  5th  of 
Xovembcr,  the  army  debarked  at  St.  Gilles,  when  the 
fleet  returned  to  England.''' 

When  I  landed  at  Tile  Dieu,  I  took  with  me,  as  one 
of  the  boat's  crew,  the  large  black  man,  Philip.  I  wms 
astonished  to  see  the  curiosity  expressed  here  at  the 
sight  of  a  negro.  He  was  followed  at  every  step  by  a 
crowd  of  men,  women,  and  children,  all  desirous  to 
see  a  black  man  ;  and  I  soon  received  a  ])ressing 
message  from  the  Governor's  lady  to  see  him.  I 
accordingly  took  Philip  with  me,  and  repaired  to 
the   residence    of  the    Governor,   where    were    assem- 

♦  See  Thiers's  History  uf  the  French  Revolution. 


19G 


Tin:    AMKKICAN    PRIVATRKRS. 


[I«U. 


])lc(l  all  the  (ir.sl,  Itidios  of  tlio  isliiiHl.  Tiicv  luid  u 
great  nmny  (lUoslioiiN  to  ask  about  him,  respecting  ilu. 
place  of  hi'.s  birlli,  wlietlier  he  was  kind  and  ;;()()d. 
iialin"u(l,  etc.  "When  their  curiosity  wan  gratified,  the 
fellow  begged  of  me  as  a  favor  to  be  allowed  to  fj;o  on 
board,  as  he  did  not,  like  to  be  exhibited  as  a  show. 
This  re(|uest  I  I'eadily  ;:,i"anted,  tcllin^j;  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  that  I  had  an  Indian  on  boai'd,  and  that  I 
would  send  for  him.  'I'he  Indian  came  directly  on 
shore,  but,  to  my  surprise,  thei'e  a])[ieared  but  little  cn- 
riosity  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants  to  see  the  savage. 
This  island  had  been,  as  it  were,  shut  out  from  the  rest 
of  the  world  lor  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  with  little 
or  no  comnienx'  or  comnuinication  with  oth(>r  nations, 
and  it  is  therefore  highly  jjrobable  that  w.vy  few  of  it.s 
inhabitants  had  ever  seen  a  negro,  and  were,  of  cotu'se. 
eager  to  behold  one. 

j:i/e  Dicu,  March  26fh,  ISM.— Throughout  this  day 
we  had  light  winds  from  the  westward,  and  clear,  plea- 
sant weather.  I  got  a  2)assport  from  the  Commissary  of 
Marine,  and  was  now  only  waiting  for  a  passage  to  St. 
Gilles. 

March  2GM. — Light  winds  from  the  southward,  with 
rain  during  the  whole  day  ;  still  waiting  an  o])portunity 
to  leave  me  island  foi'  the  continent. 

March  27///. — Throughout  this  day  pleasant  breezes 
from  the  X.X.E.,  and  fnio  weather.  At  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning  I  embarked  on  board  the  chasse-maree  Mii- 
riana,  Captain  Bruniel,  and  after  a  pleasant  passage  of 
three  hours,  arrived  safe  at  St.  Gilles — a  small  seaport 
town  on  the  west  coast  of  Fi'ancc,  lying  in  latitude  40^^ 
40'  North,  longitude  l^  51'  West.  It  is  an  inconsidoi'- 
able  place,  and  only  navigable  lor  small  vessels. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  I  left  this  place,  on 


1811. J 


TUK    AMKUICAN    rUIVATKKUS. 


107 


liorscltiU'k,  for  Siiblos  (rOlomic,  iii  wliifli  [)laco  I  arrivofl 
at  six  o'clock  in  llio  ovoniii^,  iiiul  put  ii[)  for  tlio  iii^ht. 
This  is  a  i)loaNaMt  little  !^('ai)ort  town,  al)()iit  (ivo  loaguos 
(Voiii  St.  (rillos. 

March  2S///. — Fivsli  breozos  from  the  S.K.,  and 
cloudy  wi'atlior  throui^liout  this  day.  At  ten  o'clock  thia 
mornin*.^,  left  this  [)lace  with  th((  courier,  for  Napoleon, 
where  I  arrived  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  having 
travelled  seven  leagues  in  a  miserable  vehicle. 

Xii[)oleon  is  a  newly-built  town,  with  several  lino 
houst's,  and  broad  streets,  I  liad  now  got  upon  the 
j^reat  })ublie  road,  and  after  a,ii:rccing  to  ])ay  sixty  francs 
I'ur  my  passage  to  La  llochelle,  left  Xiqtoleon  in  the 
same  vehicle,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  nftcrnoon.  At  eight 
o'clock  in  tbo  evening,  we  arrived  at  the  small  village 
of  Maria,  and,  after  ha\  ing  traveled  about  live  leagues, 
put  up  here  for  the  night. 

March  29M.— Wo  left  Mai-ia  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  traveled  on  the  great  public  i-oad.  Wo 
passed  through  Lucan,  and  several  other  towns  and  vil- 
liiges,  and  arrived  at  La  l^)chelle  (eighteen  leagues  from 
Napoleon),  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day. 

Hero  I  [)ut  up  at  the  Hotel  des  Ambassadcurs,  where  T 
was  dellglited  to  meet  with  many  of  my  countrymen, 
and  once  more  to  hear  the  sweet  sound  of  my  native 
language.  It  was  at  this  ])]ace  that  I  became  acquainted 
with  Captain  Madet  of  the  brig  Rattlesnake.  He  had 
recently  arrived  from  his  northern  cruise,  and  had  made 
laany  ca})tures.  He  informed  me  that  not  long  before 
ho  came  into  this  port,  he  captui-ed  the  British  trans- 
port-ship Mary,  from  Sicily  bound  to  England,  with 
some  French  prisoners  on  l)oard.  There  were  also  seve- 
ral English  Army  officers  and  soldiers,  sent  to  guard  them. 


198 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


Tlio  Mary  had  .several  carriage  guns,  witli  musketry, 
etc.  The  Captain  of  the  transport  sustained  an  action 
with  the  Rattlesnake  for  about  tAventy  minutes,  wlien 
himself  and  two  seamen  being  killed,  and  tlir  "!  others 
wounded,  the  ship  struck  her  colors,  and  was  ordered 
mto  a  port  in  France. 

The  Rattlesnake  had  not  a  man  killed,  and  but  one 
wounded.  Tliat  was  his  marine  officer,  a  handsome 
young  man  belonging  to  IS^ew  York,  who  was  shot  in 
one  of  his  legs.  He  was  here  taken  to  the  hospital.  He 
had  the  best  medical  aid,  and  was  tenderly  nursed  b) 
the  Sifters  of  Charity. 

He  was  advised  by  surgical  men  to  have  the  limb 
amputated,  and  was  warned  of  the  danger  of  delay.  He 
would  not  consent,  however,  to  the  operation,  giving  as 
a  reason  that  it  would  spoil  his  dancing.  The  good  Sis- 
ters,  seeing  the  young  man  daily  become  weaker  and 
weaker,  wc^re  extremely  anxious  that  he  should  become 
a  Christian,  (meaning  a  Catholic). 

To  gratify  them,  he  consented,  at  least  in  appearance. 
They  were  rejoiced,  tliinking  no  doubt,  they  had  been 
the  means  of  saving  the  soul  of  a  heretic. 

The  poor  fellow  lingered  a  fcAV  weeks  and  died.  He 
was  followed  to  the  grave  by  all  the  Americans  in  the 
place. 

I  subsequently  learned,  thai  Captain  Maffet's  jirize- 
ship  Mary,  was  recaptured,  and  sent  to  England.  I  saw 
it  stated  afterwards  in  the  English  papers,  that  the  offi- 
cers on  board  the  Mary  on  their  ari'ival  in  England, 
greatly  extolled  the  generous  conduct  of  Captain  Maffet, 
in  giving  them  all  their  personal  property.  Also,  for  his 
kind  and  humane  treatment  of  them,  and  of  all  liis 
other  prisoners. 

At  this   period  there  were  lying  in  this  port  three 


1814.J 


THE    AMElllGAN    PRIVATEERS. 


109 


American  vessels  beside  the  Rattlesnake,  viz.,  the  let- 
tcr-of-niarque  brig  Ida,  of  Boston,  the  schooner  Deca- 
tur, of  Pliiladclphia,  and  a  merchant  brig  belonging  t) 
New  York,  laid  up  here  during  the  wa/. 

There  was  lying  in  La  Rochclle  roads  an  English  fleet, 
commanded  by  Admiral  Lord  Keith,  in  the  Queen  Char- 
lotte. Beside  the  Admiral's  ship,  there  were  four  other 
liiie-of-battle  ships,  several  frigates,  and  sundry  brigs 
and  schooners-of-war.  The  brigs  and  schooners  were 
anchored  close  in  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  to  block- 
ado  the  Americans,  and  also  to  prevent  any  Vv  ssol  i 
from  going  in  or  coming  out  of  the  port. 

For  several  days  after  my  arrival  at  La  Rochelle  we 
were  without  news  from  "Paris,  as  all  communication 
had  been,  cut  off  and  not  a  diligence  was  allowed  to  run 
on  the  road  between  the  two  cities.  The  town  was 
[)laced  in  a  very  anxious  state  of  suspense.  Everj-bod} 
knew  that  the  allied  armies  were  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Paris,  and  no  one  dared  to  speak  a  syllable  on  the 
subject.  At  tliis  time  the  military  officers  were  soon 
conversing  with  each  otlior  in  small  groi'vps,  and  ap[)ear- 
ed  to  be  the  only  men  that  the  government  could  rely 
upon.  At  length,  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1814,  news  ar- 
rived in  town  that  Paris  had  been  taken  by  the  allied 
armies  on  the  30th  ultimo.  The  next  day  official  or- 
ders arrived  from  that  city  proclaiming  the  change  of 
government.  In  fie  capitulation,  Bonaparte  was  sent 
to  Elba,  and  Louis  XVIII.  acknowledged  King  of 
France 

In  a  few  minutes  some  one  mounted  a  white  cockade, 
and  very  soon  after  it  became  general ;  and  now  it 
was  "Yive  le  roi !  "  "Vive  Louis  XVIII.!"  Although 
at  that  time  I  was  no  friend  of  the  emperor,  I  was  ab- 
solutely disgusted  with  several  poor  devils  who,  a  few 


200 


THE    AMKllICAN    rUIVATEEIlS. 


[181t. 


days  before  this  great  avent,  had  extolled  "  Le  Grand 
Emporeiir''  up  to  the  skies,  and  now  turned  against 
him,  and  called  him  "  Lc  Prince  des  Tyrants  !*' 
This  imidication  does  not  apply  at  all  to  the  military, 
nor  to  the  respectable  part  of  the  inhabitants,  but  to 
some  hotel  keei)ers  and  other  mean-spirited  turj) coats, 
such  as  infest  every  part  of  the  globe. 

The  Cliasse-Mar(je,  that  I  chartered  in  Bordeaux  to 
bring  to  this  place  100  casks  of  wine  and  50  pipes  of 
brandy,  I  found  lying  here  waiting  orders  with  respect 
to  its  disposition. 

The  Ida  was  a  fine  coppoi'od  l)rig  of  272  tons  burden, 
mounting  eight  long  nine  and  twelve-pounders,  with  a 
complement  of  thirty-live  men.  Slie  was  in  ballast,  and 
required  freight.  I  soon  si  ruck  a  bargain  with  Captain 
Mantor  to  take  the  wine  and  brandy  at  a  iovV  freight, 
for  Boston — say  at  $45  per  ton. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Stli  of  April,  Captain  Maflet, 
in  the  Rattlesnake,  Captain  ]\[antor,  in  the  Ida,  and 
Captain  Brown  in  the  Conmiodorc  Decatur,  all  sailed 
from  this  place.  The}^  ran  down  on  the  north  side  of 
rile  de  Re,  namely  between  the  island  and  the  main- 
land. In  this  passage  the}^  n^et  an  English  man-of-war 
brig  and  a  schooner  in  company,  and  were  all  driven 
back. 

The  Rattlesnake  and  the  Commodore  Decatur  return- 
ed into  port  again.  The  Ida  lay-to  off  the  east  end  of 
the  island  long  enough  to  discharge  his  pilot,  and  then 
nuido  a  bold  dash  dowu  the  south  side  of  the  island,  in 
plain  sight  of  the  British  fleet  that  was  lying  at  anchor 
in  the  Roads,  off  La  Rochelle. 

I  will  here  digress  from  the  thread  of  my  narrative, 
to  insert  the  two  following  letters.  As  they  have  an 
intimate  connection  with  this  subject,  I  think  it  is  bet- 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS 


201 


reiglit, 


ter  to  place  them  here  than  to  leave  them  to  a  later 
(late. 

"  Captain  Jeremiah  Mantnr,formerhj  of  the  brig  Ida,  of 

Boston : 

"Dear  Sir  :  Upon  the  score  of  old  acquaintance,  I 
lierewitli  take  the  liberty  of  writing  to  you  on  the  sul)- 
ject  of  the  scenes  through  which  we  passed  in  our  late 
war  with  England,  in  the  years  1812,  1813,  and  1814. 
I  have  been  for  several  months  writing  a  nari-ative  of 
all  the  voyages  I  ever  made,  namely,  from  the  year 
1798,  until  I  retired  from  the  sea,  in  1841. 

"  Now,  my  dear  sir,  you  doubtless  recollect  that  I 
conmianded  the  Icttcr-of-marque  schooner  David  Porter, 
of  New  York,  and  that  after  I  sent  my  vessel  home 
from  off  rile  Dieu,  coast  of  France,  I  went  on  to  La 
Ixochelle,  where  we  met  on  the  29th  of  March,  1814  ; 
and  you  will  also  recollect  that  I  shipped  by  3'ou  in  the 
brig  Ida,  100  casks  of  wine  and  50  pipes  of  brandy 
for  Boston.  I  had  no  insurance  on  this  property,  and 
was,  of  course,  extremely  anxious  for  your  safety.  I  re- 
collect that  you  sailed  from  La  Ilochelle  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th  of  April,  in  company  with  the  privateer  brig 
Rattlesnake,  Captain  Maffet,  of  rhiladeli)liia,  and  the 
lettcr-of-marque  schooner  Commodore  Decatur,  Captain 
Brown,  also  of  Philadelphia,  and  that  you  all  three  ran 
down  between  I'lle  de  Re  and  the  main-land,  and  in  that 
passage  you  met  an  English  man-of-war  brig  with  a 
sciiooner  in  company,  sent  there  to  guard  and  block  up 
the  passage,  and  that  you  w^ere  all  driven  back.  The 
Rattlesnake  and  Commodore  Decatur  returned  into  port 
again,  and  off  the  east  end  of  I'lle  de  Tie  you  squared 
away  and  dashed  down  the  south  side  of  the  island,  and 
had  to  pass  through  the  British  fleet.     At  that  time 


202 


THE   AMERICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


thei'o  lay  at  anchor  in  the  roads  off  La  Rochellc  tliG 
Qiiocn  Gliarlottc,  and  four  .ships  of  the  hue.  I  under- 
stood that  one  of  these  Hnc-of-hattle  ships  shpped  licr 
cables  and  made  sail  in  pursuit  of  your  brig.  Although 
T  was  at  the  time  of  your  sailing  standing  on  the  quay 
at  La  lloehelle,  I  still  have  but  an  imperfect  idea  of  all 
that  passed.  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  you  would  do  mo 
a  great  favor  by  giving  me  a  detailed  account  of  all  you 
can  recollect  of  your  marvellous  escape — namely,  the 
length  of  your  passage  home,  the  nvunber  of  shot  fired 
at  3^ou  during  the  chase,  and  whether  they  threw  more 
than  one  shot  on  board  of  your  brig,  and  any  other  in- 
cident you  can  call  to  mind,  will  be  gratefully  received. 

Your  bravery  and  good  conduct  in  evading  the  close 
pursuit  of  so  many  ships-of-war,  ought  to  be  published 
to  the  world.  You  cei'tainly  out-manoeuvred  and  out- 
sailed them  all,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  your  prompt  de- 
cision and  gallant  conduct  saved  the  whole  of  the  pro- 
perty intrusted  to  you. 

For  this  and  many  other  kind  favors,  I  remain  your 
obliged  and  very  grateful  friend. 


GEORGE  COGGESHALL." 


New  York,  January _l!>th,  IS-IG. 


"West  Tisbury,  Mass. 
Martha's  Vineyard,  Jan.  17^/^,1840. 

Capt.  George  Coggeshall: 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  received  your  letter  of  the  5th  inst., 
and  am  happy  to  hear  from  one  of  my  old  acquaintances. 
I  often  think  of  them  and  the  scenes  I  have  passed 
through  during  the  years  I  luive  spent  on  the  ocean. 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    TRTVATEERS. 


203 


The  voyage  you  speak  of  is  well  remeniberecl.  It  \\  ould 
not  be  possible,  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years,  for  nie 
to  give  you  a  correot  account  of  «//  my  voyages  during 
the  late  war,  but  I  will  write  you  the  particulars  of  that 
pussage  home,  and  you  can  make  what  use  of  it  you 
think  proper. 

I  left  La  llochelle  in  company  with  the  Rattlesnake 
and  Connnodore  Decatur,  and  run  out  north  of  I'Jle  do  lie, 
with  a  fair  wind.  Saw  two  men-of-war  ahead,  hauled 
our  wind  and  stood  back  to  the  east  end  of  File  de  He. 
I  saw  there  was  a  risk  in  returning  again  into  port,  and 
might  be  taken  there  ;  so  I  determined  at  once  to  make  a 
bold  push,  discharged  my  pilot,  and  made  all  sail  to  pass 
the  south  end  of  the  Island.  I  saw  in  a  moment  several 
of  the  men-of-war  under  way  upon  my  lee  quarter.  I 
was  looking  out  for  ships  ahead,  and  as  I  o})ened  the 
Island,  a  schooner  came  down  on  my  stai-board  side 
within  musket-shot ;  she  gave  me  a  broadside  and  three 
cheers,  shot  away  my  studding-sail  boom  and  main-stay, 
and  some  small  rigging.  I  soon  passed  her,  but  the  men- 
of-war  were  coming  up  under  my  leo,  and  the  shot 
flew  thick. 

I  soon  saw  another  ship  bearing  down  upon  my  star- 
board side.  There  was  but  one  way  to  escape,  which 
was,  up  helm,  and  bring  all  astern,  or  sink  ;  this  was 
quickly  done,  and  we  crossed  the  bows  of  the  head 
ship  so  near  that  I  could  hear  them  halloo  on  board 
plainly. 

Tlie  shot  went  most  of  it  over  me  :  one  thirty-two 
pounder  raked  my  deck  and  lodged  in  the  bows,  one 
cut  my  anchor  off  the  bows  and  cut  the  chains  at  the 
same  moment.  I  cut  the  cable  and  let  the  anchor  go. 
My  crew  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  deck,  and 
in  the  hold  heaving  out  ballast,  which  saved  many  lives. 


204 


THE    AMEHICAN    nilVATEERS. 


L1814. 


Tlio  vessels  continued  tlie  chase  until  eleven  at  night, 
after  thiit  I  .saw  no  more  of  them.  I  think  there  was  as 
many  as  eight  or  ten  in  pursuit  of  me.  I  stood  out  to 
sea,  and  at  daylight  saw  two  frigates  right  aliead,  and 
had  just  time  to  haul  upon  the  wind,  not  knowing  but 
tliat  I  sliould  upset,  as  I  had  liglitened  the  hrig  so  much 
that  night — I  had  thrown  overboard  six  nine-pounders 
during  the  night,  and  soon  found  her  ready  for  anotlier 
cluise. 

At  dark  I  had  gained  four  or  live  miles  upon  them  ; 
one  was  on  my  lee  quarter,  and  the  other  astern.  I  was 
headed  into  uie  bay,  and  dare  not  risk  to  get  before  tlic 
wind. 

About  nine  p.m.  the  shutter  of  the  binnacle  fell,  and 
they  saw  my  light.  They  made  signals  one  to  the  other, 
and  that  showed  me  where  they  were.  1  immediately 
bore  up  before  the  wind,  and  at  daylight  saw  them  hull 
down.  I  now  had  once  more  the  wide  ocean,  but  my 
brig  was  light,  which  made  my  passage  rather  long.  I 
think  it  was  twenty-six  days. 

Nothing  more  worth  relating  took  place  during  our 
passage.  I  made  two  voyages  to  France,  and  one  to 
New  Orleans  in  the  war,  and  passed  througli  many 
scenes  which  often  come  to  my  mind,  now  I  have  sat 
down  in  my  old  age  to  think  of  the  many  dangers  and 
escapes  that  I  have  passed  through. 

I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  }■  ou  at  any  time. 

Yours  with  respect, 

JEREMIAH  MANTOIl. 


I  will  now  continue  my  narrative,  and  return  to  the 
9th  of  April,  1814.  After  the  Ida  had  made  her  escape, 
and  the  Rattlesnake  and  Commodore  "Decatur  returned 


]8M.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


20; 


into  port,  these  two  vessels  were  watclied  and  blockaded 
with  more  vigilance  than  ever.  The  English  nien-ol- 
war  anchored  nearer  the  port,  while  a  brig  and  a 
schooner  were  almost  constantl}'  within  giin-sliot  ol' the 
harbor.  Tranquillity  having  been  restored  in  Paris,  all 
the  wheels  of  government  began  to  move  in  a  more  re- 
gular train  ;  the  mails  and  diligences  commenced  run- 
ning throughout  the  kingdom  as  formerly. 

In  a  few  days  I  settled  all  my  business,  and  left  this 
place  in  the  diligence  for  Bordeaux,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1814,  passing  through  Rochefort  and  several  othei-  towns 
lying  on  the  great  public  road,  and  on  the  14lh,  two 
days  after  leaving  La  Ilochclle,  I  once  more  had  the 
pleasure  to  return  in  safety  to  Bordeaux.  Here  1  found 
every  thing  tranquil,  and  although  the  city  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  English,  there  was  no  noise  or  con- 
fusion. 

The  theatres  were  all  open  as  usual,  and  well  sup- 
ported. In  lieu  of  seeing  French  troops  and  sentinels 
about  the  town,  there  were  English  and  Portuguese 
soldiers  stationed  at  every  military  post. 

I  found  my  business  had  been  well  managed  by  my 
good  friends  Messrs.  Brun  frcres  ;  a  portion  of  my 
freight  had  been  collected,  and  every  thing  was  in  a  suc- 
cessful train.  The  English  had  thus  far,  respected  pri- 
vate persons  and  private  property. 

There  were  no  American  vessels  here  ;  nearl}^  all  of 
them  had  left  thin  country.  There  were  a  few  however 
iu  the  northern  ports,  uamely,  three  blockaded  at  La 
Rochelle  as  before  stated.  The  letter-of-marque  schooner 
Kemp,  Captain  Jacobs  of  Baltimore,  was  lying  at 
Kantes,  and  the  schooners  Lion  and  Spencer  at  L'Orient. 
These  were  about  all  the  American  vessels  left  in  the 
Western  ports  of  France.  There  were  several  American 


200 


TliE     AMERICAN     rUIVATEERS. 


1S14. 


^ontlomew,  supcrciirgocs,  at  Bordeaux  niid  La  TloelioUo, 
wail'm;^  an  opportunity  to  return  lionie  to  the  United 
States.  Nearly  all  tlie  American  eaplains  and  supercar- 
goes at  this  time  in  France  were  well  known  to  each 
other,  and  were  upon  very  friendly  terms.  I  found  hero, 
as  in  all  i)arts  of  the  world,  that  mutual  interest  and 
mutual  sympathy  draw  men  closely  together."'  We  were 
all  di>visiiig  means  to  get  homo,  some  going  to  Amelia 
Island  ill  neutral  vessels,  others  taking  passage  in  let- 
ters-of-mar({uc,  and  some  few  in  ships-of-war. 

A  few  days  before  I  arrived  at  Bordeaux,  on  the  10th 
of  Ai)ril,  there  was  a  terrible  battle  fought  between  the 
French  and  p]nglish  armies  at  Toulouse.  The  French 
army  was  ccmimanded  by  ^farshal  Soult,  and  the  Fng- 
lish  by  Lord  ^^"ellington.  This  was  a  most  sanguinary 
conflict.  Although  the  English  were  victorious,  they 
lost,  in  killed  ?nd  wounded,  about  five  thousand  men, 
and  the  French  about  three  thousand.  I  saw  great 
numbers  of  English  officers  who  were  brought  down  to 
Bordeaux  sadly  maimed,  some  with  the  loss  of  their 
limbs,  others  cut  and  mutilated  in  a  frightful  manner. 
These  sights  and  scenes  were  absolutely  enough  to 
sicken  one  with  war. 

I  had  now  so  far  arranged  all  my  commercial  affairs 
in  Bordeaux  with  my  friends  Messrs.  Brun  freres,  that  I 
thought  seriously  of  returning  to  the  United  States,  by 
the  first  good  opportunity.  Thus,  after  staying  in  this 
city  six  days,  I  left  it  again  on  the  21st  of  April,  to  re- 
turn to  La  Rochelle  in  search  of  a  passage  home.  I 
took  the  diligence  and  travelled  on  the  great   public 


o  For  example,  a  gentleman  who  witnessed  the  great  earthquake  at  Car- 
raccas,  in  March,  1812,  told  me,  that  at  that  time  he  saw  men  embrace  each 
other  v/ho  had  not  spoken  together  for  years,  and  that  the  whole  community 
buried  their  private  animosities  In  face  of  the  general  danger. 


1R14. 


1814.] 


Till']    AMKUICAN    rillVATEEllS. 


207 


loUo, 
nilerl 
ii'car- 

hero, 
it  and 
!  were 
.mclia 
n  Ict- 

elOth 
en  the 

b^rcndi 
i  Eng- 
;ninary 
^,   they 
d  men, 
J  great 
lown  to 
)f  their 
nanner. 
ugh  to 

affairs 

,thatT 

ttes,  hy 

in  this 

to  rc- 

)mc.    I 

public 

Lkc  at  Car- 
Ibrace  each 
-ommuuity 


road  along  the  sea-coast,  and  ai'rived  hi  two  days  at  La 
Rochclle.     Here  I  found  the  Rattlesnake  and  Conuuo- 
dore  Decatur  still  blockaded,  and,  as  it  appeared  alto- 
gether uncertain  wlien  they  would  be  able  to  get  to  sea, 
after  remaining  here  a  fortnight,  I  concluded  to  proceed  to 
Xantes.     I  accordingly  left  La  Uochelle  on  the  10th  of 
^[ay  ;  travelled  on  the  grand  route,  and  passing  through 
Morcilles,  Napoleon,  and  several  towns  and  villages,  ar- 
rived at  Nantes  on  the  11th  of  May.     The  distance  from 
La  Uochelle  to  this  place  is  100  miles.     I  stopjjcd  at  the 
Hotel  dc  France  for  a  few  daj's,  and  then  took  private 
ludgings  with  Captain  Jacobs,  of  the   letter-of-marque 
schooner  Kemp,  of  Baltimore.     His  schooner  was  an- 
chored at  Paimboeuf,  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Loire, 
about  thirty  miles  below  Nantes.     I  made  fre(iuent  ex- 
cursions with  Captain  Jacobs  down  to  1'ainiba.Mif,  and 
found  the  river  very  shallow  and  lull  of  Hats  and  sand 
bars,  and  very  difficult  to  ascend  except  for  small  ves- 
sels.    There  is,  however,  water  enough  at  the  port  of 
Paimboeuf,  and  the  anchorage  is  good  and  safe.     The 
shores  and  meadows  along  the  river  in  the  summer  sea- 
son arc  beautiful.    The  grounds  are  highly  cultivated,  and 
the  houses  and  cottages  are  neat  and  pretty.     Nantes  is 
a  fine  old  city,  lying  in  lat.  47°  13'  N.,  long.  1°  33'  W., 
about  210  miles  in  a  direct  line  S.W.  of  Paris.     By  Or- 
leans, Blois,  Tours  and  other  towns  on  the  Loire,  the 
distance  is  about  300  miles.     It  is  generally  well  built, 
and  has  a  great  many  public  squares.     The  quays  along 
the  river  are  very  fine,  and  shaded  by-  rows  of  large  elm 
trcos,  which  render  them  delightful  promenades.   Nantes 
^vas  formerly  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  com- 
mercial town  in  France,  and  is  still  a  place  of  considera- 
ble importance  in  a  commercial  point  of  view.     It  num- 
bers from  one  hundred  and  eighty  to  two  hundred  thou- 


208 


TIM':    AMi;iMCAN    I'lUV ATKKUS. 


LJ&u. 


sand  iiiliiibiluiil.s,  and  is,  iii  my  opinion,  llio  most  moral 
town  ol'  itH  si/A!  in  llie  kin;i;(loni.  I'l-ovisions  nro  clioaj), 
and  taking  every  thing  into  coiiNidcration,  it  isa  very  do- 
fciiral)le  residence,  and  strangers  in  })nrsnit  of  heiillli  and 
reasonable  living,  will  lind  themselves  quiet  and  eom- 
fortable  in  this  highly  favored  itlace.  At  the  time  I 
visited  this  town,  there  ai)itear('d  to  be  a])out  three  wo- 
men to  one  man  ;  the  male  jjopnlation  liad  been  taken 
away  in  great  inmd)ers  for  the  last  twenty  years,  to  fill 
up  the  armies  of  France,  which  of  course  left  a  very 
large  proportion  of  Cemales. 

I  came  on  here  for  the  pur^joso  of  o])taining  a  passage 
to  the  United  States  ;  but  in  this  1  was  disa})pointed  : 
tlierc  were  no  other  Ameiican  vessels  here  ))ut  the 
Kemp  and  she  was  prei)aring  to  relui'u  home  as  a  cruis- 
ing vessel — that  is  to  say,  to  pick  up  a  (.'argo  from  the 
enemy  on  the  ocean,  if  possible,  and  perhaps  man  and 
send  into  port  a  fast-sailing  rich  prize  or  two,  if  fortu- 
nate enougli  to  meet  with  such.  Tliis  mode  of  cruising, 
although  pleasant  enough  as  a  cai)tain  did  not  meet  my 
views  as  a  passenger  oi*  a  volunteer.  I  therefore  con- 
cluded to  return  to  Bordeaux,  and  wait  a  more  favor- 
able opportunity  to  get  home. 

I  found  Captain  J.  a  ])lcasant,  gentlemanly  man,  and 
parted  with  him  with  sincere  regret.  After  spending 
about  a  month  of  perfect  leisure  at  Nantes,  I  left  this 
agreeable  place  in  the  diligence  for  Bordeaux,  on  the 
lP)th  of  June,  1814.  The  distance  between  the  two 
cities  is  216  miles.  We  were  tw^o  days  on  the  road,  and 
arrived  in  Bordeaux  on  the  15tli,  without  accident. 
I  now  had  abundance  of  leisure,  not  only  to  look 
after  my  commercial  affairs  in  Bordeaux,  but  to  partake 
of  its  various  amusements,  and  enjoy  its  hospital)le 
society. 


LJ.&U. 


1814.] 


Tin;    AMKinCAN    I'lUVATKKRS. 


201) 


ry  (le- 
h  luul 
I  com- 
iinc  I 
;c  wo- 
i  taken 

to  nil 

11  very 

passage 
ointod  : 
l)ut  the 
a  cvuis- 
rom  the 
\[\\\  nii<l 
it'  Ibrtu- 
M'uisiii?;, 
iicctiny 
)ro  coll- 


ar 


On  tlio  Otli  of'.Aii<j;iiMl  I  locoiviMl  tlio  uccouiit  sulcs  of 
my  cotloiiM,  with  a  staUMiuMit  of  wliat  was  diK!  me, 
{111(1  also  (ho  l)alaii('(3  (luo  for  rr('i;i;lil,  all  of  whii'li  was 
now  sotU('(l  Jo  my  (Mitiro  .satislactioii.  I  rorthwilli  vc- 
initli'il  lo  my  owners  in  New  York,  in  sundry  ])ills  of 
('X('liaii<;'o,  $<S,G02,  iKisidos  leaving  a  largo  halamio  in  llio 
Iiiinds  of  my  worthy  frionds,  Afossrs.  IJniu  fri'i'os.  I  am 
liii|i[»y  to  say,  F  sm-mountod  ono  dilUcidly  after  another, 
until  things  l)egan  to  wear  a  brighter  asjieet ;  and  as  I 
was  unablo  to  obtain  a  jjassago  from  any  of  the  ports  on 
the  western  coast,  F  doeidod  to  go  nj)  to  l*ari.s  and 
spend  a  few  woeks,  and  try  to  got  a  jjassage  home  from 
some  of  tlio  northern  ports  of  France. 

Before  leaving  this  place,  it  would  bo  ungrateful  in 
me  not  to  speak  of  the  kind  hospitality  1  received  in 
this  town  ;  even  amidst  war  and  confusion,  tho  rites  of 
hospitality  arc  here  never  forgotten.  The  kind  treat- 
ment to  strangers  by  tho  inhabitants  of  Bordeaux  is 
proverbial,  and  needs  no  I'opetition  from  mo.  Still,  I 
am  happy  to  l)ear  my  fooblo  testimony,  and  time  will 
never  cdaeo  from  my  memory  the  happy  days  I  have 
spent  in  this  delightful  city. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  I  left  Bordeaux  in  the  dili- 
gence for  the  capitah  AVe  passed  through  Angouleme, 
Poictiers,  Tours,  and  along  the  pleasant  banks  of  tho 
Loire  to  Blois,  Orleans,  and  from  thence  to  Paris.  The 
time  occupied  in  peiTorming  this  jom-ney  was  five  days, 
iiud  tho  distance  180  post  leagues,  and  the  whoh^  ex- 
pense, including  tho  fee  to  tho  conductor,  postillion,  ser- 
vants, etc.,  etc.,  was  190  francs.  I  put  up  at  the  Hotel 
Strasbourg,  in  the  Rue  Notre  Dame  dcs  Victoires.  We 
got  into  the  vicinity  of  this  magnificent  city  just  before 
the  dawn  of  day,  A  young  American  friend  was  my 
travelling  companion,  and  we  were  at  daylight  on  the 
14  '     • 


^, 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1^ 

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Photographic 

Scmces 

Corporalion 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


^ 


^o 


1210 


THE    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


qui  vive  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  this  vast  mctropo- 
Hs,  when  just  as  the  sun  was  rising  wc  ascended  a  hill, 
and  behold !  the  lamed  city  of  Paris  was  in  full  view. 
Among  the  many  objects  of  admiration  that  caught  the 
eye,  the  dome  of  the  Hotel  dcs  Invalides  was  the  most 
conspicuous  ;  it  was  newly  gilded,  and  when  the  sun 
shone  upon  this  splendid  object,  the  effect  was  truly  en- 
chanting. I  was  young  and  enthusiastic  at  that  time, 
and  shall  never  forget  the  impression  made  on  my  mind 
by  this,  my  first  view  of  this  astonishing  city. 

It  was  absolutely  like  transporting  one  to  another 
world.  T  had  read  its  history  from  my  boyish  days,  and 
now,  for  the  first  time,  beheld  it  in  all  its  magnificence. 
Since  that  time  I  have  visited  many  parts  of  the  globe, 
and,  even  down  to  this  date,  1856, 1  have  never  met  its 
equal.  London,  certahily,  covers  a  greater  space,  and 
has  almost  double  the  number  of  inhabitants  ;  still, 
there  never  was,  nor  ever  will  be,  but  one  Paris. 

Immediately  on  my  arrival  in  Paris,  I  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  the  several  owners  of  the  David  Porter : 

Paris,  20th  August,  1814. 

Messrs.  Lawrence  ^   Whitney,  James  Lovett,  Esq.,  and 
the  other  owners  of  the  David  Porter : 

Gentlemen  : — I  have  this  moment  arrived  here  from 
Bordeaux.  I  came  here  in  hopes  of  obtaining  a  pas- 
sage home  in  the  ship  John  Adams,  from  Amsterdam, 
which  ship,  I  am  informed,  is  to  sail  in  about  a  week 
from  this  day  for  America.  I  need  not  tell  you  my  dis- 
appointmont  to  learn  from  several  American  gentlemen 
who  are  here,  that  they,  with  several  others  in  London, 
have  applied  to  our  Minister  for  a  passage  in  said  ship, 
and  have  been  refused,  and  that  it  is  absolutely  impossi- 


1814.] 


TUE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


211 


ble  to  obtain  a  passage  in  the  John  Adams  on  any 
terms.  How,  or  in  what  way,  I  shall  get  home,  I  am 
not  able  to  say,  but  assure  you  I  shall  embrace  the  first 
opportunity.  It  was  not  until  the  9th  instant  that  I  got 
my  business  settled  with  Brun  freres.  Enclosed  I  send 
you  one  set  of  bills  of  exchange,  amounting,  together, 
to  $8,691,  all  of  which,  I  trust,  will  be  paid,  without 
any  difficulty  ;  if  they  are  not,  the  persons  from  whom 
I  bought  them  are  fully  able  to  pay  them,  should  they 
be  returned.  I  enclose  you,  also,  account  sales  of  our 
cotton.  Independent  of  what  I  now  remit  you,  I  have 
left  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Brun  frdres  about  40,000 
francs.  What  I  now  remit  you,  with  what  I  have  left 
in  the  hands  of  Brun  freres,  all  belongs  to  the  joint 
concern  of  the  owners  of  the  David  Porter,  when  the 
voyage  is  settled,  except  a  small  sum  due  to  my  officers. 

As  you  may  suppose,  I  am  very  much  fatigued  after 
so  long  a  journey  ;  but  for  fear  my  letter  will  not  be  in 
time  to  go  by  the  John  Adams,  I  am  obliged  to  write 
this  in  haste,  which  I  hope  you  will  receive  as  an  apology 
for  my  not  writing  more  particularly. 

I  hope  before  long  to  find  a  passage  home  some  way 
or  other,  when  I  trust  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  ex- 
plain every  thing  to  your  satisfaction. 

As  I  am  too  late  to  write  any  of  my  friends  by  this 
opportunity,  please  advise  them  of  the  substance  of  this 
letter,  and  oblige 

Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

After  having  delivered  several  letters  of  introduction 
from  my  friend  in  Bordeaux,  I  occupied  myself  for  some 
days  attending  to  commercial  business,  and  among  other 
things,  purchased  five  thousand  francs  worth  of  French 


212 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


fl814. 


silks,  shawls,  silk  stockings,  etc.  These  articles  were  all 
carefully  packed  and  dispatched  to  Bordeaux,  to  be  ship- 
ped by  the  first  fast-sailing  American  schooner  that 
should  leave  tliat  place  for  the  United  States.  Wlion 
this  was  accomplislied,  I  commenced  visiting  the  various 
museums,  libraries,  public  gardens,  palaces,  etc.  It  being 
a  fine  season  of  the  year,  I  also  made  excursions  to  St. 
Cloud,  Versailles,  St.  Germain,  St.  Denis,  and  other 
places  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  metropolis. 

There  are  in  this  great  city  so  many  objects  of  curi- 
osit}',  that  a  stranger  may  spend  several  months  with 
pleasure  and  profit  in  visiting  them. 

The  day  before  I  left  Paris,  I  wrote  the  followhig 
letter  : 


Paris,  September  8th,  1814. 
Messrs.  Archibald  Grade  ^  Sons : 

Gentlemen  : — I  send  you  inclosed  a  bill  of  exchange 
for  $991,  on  James  Wilhams,  Esq.,  of  Baltimore.  This 
is  the  net  proceeds  of  your  51  bales  of  cotton.  By  the 
ship  John  Adams,  I  forwarded  you  one  set  of  these  bills 
and  account  sales.  I  also  sent  one  copy  to  L'Orient,  to 
be  forwarded.  This  I  shall  send  to  England,  to  go  by 
the  Cartel,  which,  I  am  told,  is  now  fitting  for  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

I  am  extremely  sorry,  gentlemen,  your  shipment  of 
cotton  has  turned  out  so  much  to  your  disadvantage.  I 
however  hope  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  believe  I 
have  done  the  best  I  could  in  the  business,  I  came  on 
here  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  passage  in  the,  John 
Adams  from  Amsterdam,  but  was  disappointed,  as  they 
are  not  allowed  to  take  passengers.  I  am  also  informed 
that  the  Cartel,  which  is  now  fitting  away  from  England, 


1814.] 


THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


213 


takes  none  but  prisoners.  I  shall,  therefore,  leave  here 
to-inorrow  morning  for  Bordeaux,  and  endeavor  to  get 
a  passage  to  Amelia  Island,  or  the  West  Indies,  and  from 
tlicnce  home,  when  I  hope  I  shall  have  the  pleasui-e  to 
explain  cverythhig  relating  to  your  shipment  to  your 
satisfaction. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  respect  and  regard, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

P.  S.  I  wrote  by  the  schooner  Commodore  Decatur, 
brig  Rattlesnake,  and  Commodore  Perry,  which  letters 
I  fear  you  have  never  received,  as  it  is  here  reported 
that  all  those  vessels  have  been  captured. 

Yours  truly, 

G.  C. 


At  this  period  there  was  but  a  small  number  of  Amer- 
ican gentlemen  in  Paris,  consequently  they  were  gene- 
rally known  to  each  other. 

The  Ambassador  from  the  United  States,  residing  here, 
was  the  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Crawford.  He  was  highly  re- 
spected and  esteemed  by  the  Americans,  and  seemed  to 
take  pleasure  in  acts  of  kindness  and  benevolence  to  his 
countrjanen.  From  a  turbulent  state  of  war  and  con- 
fusion, Paris  had  lately  become  quiet  and  tranquil. 
Louis  XVIII.,  and  other  members  of  the  royal  family, 
used  almost  daily  to  show  themselves  from  the  balcony 
of  the  Tuileries,  and  I  frequently  saw  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Angoul^me  riding  on  horseback  in  various 
parts  of  the  city. 

The  theatres  and  all  public  places  of  amusement  were 
open,  and  appeared  to  be  well  patronized  and  supported. 


214 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


There  were  vast  numbers  of  strangers  here  from  different 
parts  of  Europe,  and  every  body  seemed  to  be  in  pursuit 
of  pleasure. 

After  having  spent  twenty  days  amidst  these  gay 
scenes,  I  left  Paris  on  the  9th  of  September,  1814,  in 
the  diligence,  and  returned  by  the  same  route  by  which 
I  came  up,  passing  through  Orleans  and  down  along  the 
banks  of  the  Loire,  and  so  on  to  Bordeaux,  where  1  ar- 
rived on  the  13th  of  September,  without  accident. 

I  had  many  kind  friends  in  this  city,  and  returned  to  it 
with  pleasure,  but  found  those  from  America  were  daily 
diminishing  ;  some  returning  home  in  neutral  ships,  by 
way  of  the  West  Indies  and  Amelia  Island  ;  others  going 
to  Holland  to  take  passage  from  that  country.  My 
friend  R.  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  after  wait- 
ing several  months  for  a  passage  to  the  United  States, 
had  left  this  place  for  L'Orient,  in  hopes  of  getting  a 
passage  from  that  city  to  the  United  States  with  Capt. 
Blakely,  in  the  Wasp.  This  ship  after  having  captured 
the  British  sloop-of-war  Beindcer,  put  into  L'Orient  for 
supplies,  and  here  Mr.  Stewart  joined  her.  They  sailed 
from  that  place  on  the  27th  of  August,  1814,  bound  on 
a  cruise  for  several  months,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  appointed  time  intended  to  return  to  the  LTnited 
States. 

A  few  days  after  leaving  port  she  made  several  prizes 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  Sept.,  she  engaged  and 
captured  the  British  sloop-of-war  Avon,  of  18  guns.  A 
few  minutes  after  this  ship  had  surrendered,  the  English 
brig-of-war  Castilian,  of  18  guns,  fired  one  broadside  into 
the  Wasp,  and  then  hauled  off  and  escaped  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night.  There  is  scarcely  a  doubt  that  the 
Wasp  would  have  taken  the  Castilian  also,  if  they  had 
been  favored  with  daylight.     While  on  board  the  Wasp, 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


215 


Mr.  Stewart  joined  the  marine  corps,  as  a  volunteer, 
and  thus  assisted  under  the  brave  Bkikely  to  vancjuish 
the  enemies  of  his  country. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  the  Wasp  took  and 
destroyed  two  British  brigs  ;  and  on  the  2l8t  of  the 
same  month,  hi  latitude  33°  12'  North,  longitude  14'^ 
50'  West,  she  captured  the  British  armed  brig  Atalanta. 
This  being  a  valuable  prize.  Captain  Blakcly  determined 
to  send  her  into  port.  He  put  on  board  of  her  as  prize- 
master.  Midshipman  Creisinger,  and  a  prize-crew.  In 
lliis  brig,  Mr.  Stewart  went  as  passenger.  She  arrived 
safely  at  Savannah  on  the  14th  of  November,  1814. 
Tiicse  two  gentlemen  and  the  prize-crew  arc  all  that  es- 
caped from  the  ever-to-be-lamented  Wasp  and  her  gal- 
lant crew.  I  take  pleasure  in  stating  these  facts,  that 
.■le  patriotic  conduct  of  my  friend  may  be  known  to  the 
world,  as  I  have  never  seen  his  name  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  ill-fated  Wasp  (in  any  official  account), 
and  I  deem  it  but  a  matter  of  common  justice  to  record  my 
Ivnowledge  of  these  facts.  There  were  very  many  patri- 
otic individuals  during  our  late  war  with  England  who 
rendered  essential  service  to  their  country  and  are  en- 
titled to  its  gratitude,  whoso  acts,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  are 
almost  entirely  unknown  ;  for  instance,  my  worthy 
friends  Mantor,  of  the  Ida,  and  Stewart,  who  was  a 
volunteer  on  board  the  victorious  Wasp. 

While  in  Bordeaux,  I  heard  the  gratifying  news  of 
the  safe  arrival  of  the  schooner  David  Porter,  at  Glou- 
cester, Cape  Ann,  and  also  of  the  arrivalof  the  brig  Ida, 
at  Boston.  After  I  left  the  David  Porter,  at  I'lle  Dieu, 
under  the  command  of  Mr.  Nichols,  he  captured  on  his 
passage  home  several  British  prizes,  from  which  vessels 
he  loaded  the  schooner,  and  carried  with  him  into  port 
ten  prisoners.     Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Capo  Ann,  he 


•21 G 


TFIH    AMEUICAN    I'UIVATKKRS. 


[1814. 


})ro(!CMMled  witli  tlio  David  Portor  to  Boston,  at  wliicli 
placo  the  vessel  iiiul  cargo  were  consigned  to  tlie  respec- 
table house  ol'  Messrs.  Miinson  Si  Barnard,  at  tluit  place. 
These  gentlemen  sold  both  vessel  and  cargo  at  high 
prices.  They  also  sold  the  brandy  and  wine,  by  the  brio- 
Ida,  at  a  very  good  profit,  and  closed  the  whole  concern 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties.  I  tliink  tiic 
schooner  sold  for  $1 0,000,  and  was  soon  fitted  out  as  a 
regular  i)rivateer,  and  I  believe  was  afterwards  very 
successful. 

Messrs.  Munson  and  Barnard  also  received  from  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  $1,000  as  a  bounty 
on  the  ten  i)risoners. 

The  trunk  of  goods  which  I  purchased  in  Paris  for 
5,000  francs,  or  say  $1,000,  was  shipped  by  my  friends 
in  Bordeaux,  on  board  the  Baltimore  schooner  Transit, 
.Captain  Richardson.  This  vessel  arrived  in  New  York 
on  or  about  the  8th  of  March,  1815,  and  this  trunk  of 
goods  sold  at  auction  for  $2,075. 

Bordeaux,  Oct.  1st.,  1814. 

I  had  now  closed  the  voyage  of  the  David  Porter,  so 
far  as  it  devolved  upon  me,  and  will  here  close  the  sub- 
ject with  a  few  remarks. 

When  it  is  considered  how  many  obstacles  we  met 
with,  from  the  commencement  of  the  voyage  on  the  14th 
day  of  Nov.,  1813,  until  its  conclusion,  I  think  it  will  be 
conceded  that  we  triumphed  over  many  difficulties,  and 
ultimately  made  a  good  voyage  ;  and  I  am  happy  to  add, 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  the  owners  of  the  fortu- 
nate little  schooner. 

I  will  here  insert  the  following  letter  to  my  brother 
Charles  Coggeshall,  second  lieutenant  of  the  letter-of- 
marque  David  Porter,  at  Milford,  Connecticut. 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    I'UIVATKKIfS. 


217 


BORPKAUX,  Oct.  'list.,   1814. 

Dear  Charles  : — I  am  now  on  tlio  ovo  of  leaving 
tliis  place  for  L'Orient,  to  take  connnand  of  the  elegant 
American  schooner  Leo.  I  have  been  waiting  several 
months  to  obtain  a  passage  home  to  the  United  States, 
and  have  consented  to  take  charge  of  this  schooner,  to 
proceed  from  Franco  to  Charleston  or  some  other  south- 
ern port. 

Your  cotton  netted  903  francs.  The  account  sales  I 
have  sent  to  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Whitney,  and  desired 
lliem  to  pay  you  the  amount,  together  with  the  gain  on 
tlie  exchange,  which  is  about  10  per  cent. 

You  may,  perhaps,  ask  why  I  did  not  invest  the 
amount  in  French  goods,  that  you  might  have  gained  a 
larger  profit.  I  answer  that  I  did  not  feel  myself  author- 
ized to  hazard  your  property  without  your  consent,  the 
risk  of  capture  being  in  my  opinion  very  great. 

I  was  very  happy  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  in  the 
David  Porter.  Both  Captain  Nichols  and  yourself,  and 
ill  fact,  all  the  officers  and  men  deserve  a  great  deal  of 
praise,  and  I  do  assure  you  I  shall  never  forget  your 
faithful  and  very  friendly  conduct  during  the  whole 
voyage.  Yes,  Charles,  although  I  sometimes  scold  a 
little  when  we  are  together,  1  need  not  tell  you  how 
dear  you  are  to  me,  and  that  your  faithful  and  brave 
conduct  has  entirely  won  my  heart.  I  hope  you  will 
study  navigation,  and  improve  your  mind  by  reading 
while  you  remain  at  home,  and  thus  qualify  yourself  to 
command  a  ship  when  the  war  is  ended.  Should  the 
enemy  dare  to  molest  the  part  of  the  country  where  you 
may  be,  I  hope  and  trust  you  will  be  among  the  first  to 
drive  them  into  the  sea.  Our  father  fought  them  in  1775, 
before  he  was  as  old  as  you  are,  and  I  hope  he  has  not 


218 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


left  a  sou  who  would  not  defend  his  country,  if  necessary, 
witli  liis  heart's  l)lood. 

We  hear  notliiiig  from  America  but  degrading  defeats 
and  losses  of  every  kind.  Washington  City  burnt, 
our  armies  on  the  frontiers  beaten  iu  one  place  or 
another,  and  every  thing  appears  to  bo  going  to  the 
devil.  If  things  go  on  no  better,  I  shall  be  ashamed  to 
acknowledge  myself  an  American. 

I  shall  write  to  mother  and  sister  by  the  same  vessel 
that  conveys  this  to  you. 

Remember  me  affectionately  to  our  brothers  James 
and  Francis,  and  believe  me,  my  dear  Charles, 
Your  sincere  friend  and  brother, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 


en  AFTER    VII. 


CRUISK8  OP  THE  SCOIHOB  ANU  RATTLVa.NAKK— TIIKY  TAKE  NL'AfKIlOL'H  ntlZKS — TOI- 
OATE  rilE.SIDI'^'T,  COMMODOUK  UODOKRH,  CUlI.SIXd  OKK  THE  NOKTII  CAl'K — DIIONTHEIM, 
I.N  NOIIWAY — THE  IIATTI.EHNAKE  AUItlVK.S  AT  I-A  UIM'IIELI.K — THE  HAKJV  JACK  CAJ'- 
TUKES  THE  HHIP  TELHAM,  AND  TAKtW  HER  TO  CHAltl.KHTO.N  THE  OUANI)  TUUK 
OAITUllKS  THE  INDIAN  LAHH,  AND  HEND.S  HEU  T(l  RAI.EM  ('Ut'lSE  Ol' THE  I'lllVATEEIl 
I'EBllY,  OK  BAhTIMOUE-  DHHrKRATE  UATPl.E  IlETWERN  THE  NEUKCilATEI,  riUVATEEK 
AND     THE     BOATS     OK   A     IlKITIHH     MAN-OK-WAR     OKK     NANTUCKET —THE   I'RIVATEER 

HAury,   ok  lui/riMouE,  cai'tiiu.s   the  duitisii    packet    piuncksh  emzabcth — 

THE  rUIVATEfni  SAIll.VE,  OK  DAMIMOKt:,  CAl'TlIUl'a  THE  milTI.SH  SHIP  COUNTRSSl  ('K 
UARCOUUT— CAITURE  OF  THE  NEW  KREDEUICK  IIY  THE  PRlVATKEll  KEM»— NARROW 
tSCAPE  OK  THE  PKIVATEmi  KOX  KUOM  A  ItlllTISH  SHIP-OF-WAR  THE  I'lllVATEEIl 
CAROLINE,  OF  BALTIMORE,  CAlTUUfS  THE  BRITIHII  IIRMJ  ELIZABETH,  AND  HEND3 
UER  TO  CHARLESTON— CAITL'RE  OP  A  SCHOONER  BY  THE  KEMP  OF  IIALTIMORB  THE 
schooner's   ARRIVAL   AT   CAPE   FRANCOIS. 


SUCCESSFUL    CRUISES    MADE   BY   THE   PRIVATEERS  SCOURGE  AND 
RATTLESNAKE,  OFF  THE  NORTH  CAPE,  AND   COAST   OF  NORWAY. 

The  privateers  Scourge  and  Rattlesnake  appear  to 
merit  something  more  than  a  passing  remark.  As  they 
were  often  in  company  in  a  distant  sea,  on  the  same 
cruising  ground,  and  as  they  were  very  fortunate  in 
capturing  and  annoying  the  enemy's  trade  and  com- 
merce, I  shall  devote  a  separate  notice  to  them  as  their 
just  due. 

Though  the  worthy  captains  of  both  these  vessels 
have  passed  away  from  earthly  scenes,  I  hope  their  acts 
and  deeds  in  their  country's  service  will  ever  be  appre- 
ciated, while  bravery  and  patriotism  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  civilized  nations. 

The  Rattlesnake  belonged  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  David  Mafifet,  an  excellent  seaman, 
and  a  brave,  honorable  man. 

Captain  Maffet  commanded  a  privateer  from  the  com- 

(219) 


220 


THE   AMKIIICAN    rUIVATKIiUS. 


(Ihil. 


monccnicnt  of  the  war  to  its  termination,  and  was  ul- 
wiiys  active  and  vip;ilant.  In  tlie  early  })art  of  the  war, 
lie  connnandcd  the  Alias,  and  \  Ihink  one  otlier  (ofthi.s, 
however,  I  am  not  .sure),  until  he  look  command  of  the 
Ratllesnake,  in  J 81  a. 

She  was  a  line  fa.sl-sailing  brig,  carryin^^  1 4  guns, 
Hultjibly  equipped,  and  well  .supplied  with  able  oflieer.s 
and  men. 

After  leaving  the  United  Slates  Captain  AFallet  pro- 
reeded  to  crui.se  off  the  North  coa.st  of  England,  and 
from  thence  to  the  coa.st  of  Norway,  where  having  made 
many  valuable  prizes,  and  inllicted  much  injury  upon 
Briti.sh  conmierce,  lie  put  into  La  Rochelle  about  tlio 
middle  of  March,  1814,  to  refresh  his  oflicers  and  crew, 
and  refit  for  another  cruise. 

The  Scoui'ge  was  owned  in  New  York,  and  com- 
manded by  Cai)tain  Samuel  Nicoll,  a  native  of  Stratford, 
Connecticut.  He  was  a  worthy,  inteUigent,  cnterpi-ising 
man,  and  a  good  patriot. 

The  Scourge  was  a  large  schooner  privateer,  mount- 
ing 15  carriage  guns,  with  musketry,  etc.,  and  suitably 
officered  and  manned  for  a  long  cruise.  She  sailed  from 
New  York  in  April  1813,  for  the  north  coast  of  Eng- 
land and  Norway. 

Captain  Nicoll  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  a 
good  financier.  After  he  had  made  one  or  two  success- 
ful cruises,  he  found  it  more  to  his  advantage  to  remain 
on  shore  in  the  different  ports  of  Norway,  where  ho  sent 
in  most  of  his  prizes,  and  attend  to  the  sale  of  them  than  to 
go  to  sea,  and  leave  the  management  of  his  rich  prizes  in 
the  hands  of  dishonest  or  incompetent  persons.  Conse- 
quently, he  occasionally  appointed  one  of  his  lieutenants 
to  command  the  Scourge,  to  cruise  under  his  direction. 
This    accounts    for    Captain    NicoU's    name    not  ap- 


Ifill.] 


riiK  ami:ui(:an  i'uivatkeks. 


poiirinj;  luoro  froqiuiiitly  in  the  i)ul)lic  joiinuils  at  tlmt, 
period. 

On  llio  lOtli  of  July,  wliilc  Ciiptiiin  Nicoll  was  ofTtlio 
North  (^ipc,  in  (lie  Scourgo,  lie  ibil  in  with  ami  crnisiMl 
lor  .several  days  in  company  with  Conimodore  Kodgors. 
ill  the  Tnitcd  States  frigate  President,  who  was  then 
cruising  in  those  high  northern  latitudes. 

After  (Jonnnodore  Ilodgers  left  that  region  for  a  moi'c 
southei'ly  one,  the  Seourge  [)ro('eeded  oil' the;  eoast  (»f 
Norway,  and  alternately  oil' the  Xorth  C^ipe,  to  intcrcejit 
IJritish  ships  sailing  to  and  from  Archangel. 

The  following  list  com])rises  a  portion,  l)nt  by  no 
moans  all  the  prizes  captured  by  the  Seourg(>  and  Ral- 
tlesnake,  A  great  numl>cr  were  sent  into  the  diflerent 
ports  in  the  United  States  and  Norway,  part ieulai-ly  into 
the  harbor  of  Drontheim,  and  many  others  were  dis- 
posed of  in  various  ways. 

'•The  winds  and  seas  arc  Britain's  wide  dcmiain, 
And  not  a  sail,  but  by  permission  spreads." 

British  Naval  JRegialer. 

British  bark  Concord,  West,  187  tons,  and  two  guns, 
from  London  for  Archangel,  in  ballast. 

Ship  Liberty,  Sugdcn,  253  tons,  and  8  guns,  from 
Liverpool  for  the  same  place,  in  ballast. 

Brig  Jolly  Bachelor,  Struthon,  of  119  tons,  from  Arch- 
angel, laden  with  tar,  bound  for  Aberdeen. 

Brig  Ruby,  of  4  guns,  138  tons,  taken  by  the  Rat- 
tlesnake. 

Hartford,  260  tons,  from  London,  and  Sutherland, 
for  Archangel,  in  ballast,  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Brig  Brunswick,  Lewis,  249  tons,  4  guns,  from  Dub- 
lin for  the  same  port,  taken  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Latona,  of  Shields,  by  the  Scourge. 

Experiment,  of  Aberdeen,  by  the  Scourge. 


222 


THE     AMERICAN     rillVATEERS. 


[1814. 


Brigs  Nottingham,  206  tons  and  4  guns,  and  Britan- 
nia, 4  guns,  both  from  Onega,  Russia,  for  Hull,  cargoes 
lumber  ;  after  an  action  of  fifteen  minutes — no  lives 
lost — taken  by  the  Scourge. 

Prosperous,  200  tons  and  4  guns,  in  ballast,  from 
Newcastle  ;  given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners,  by 
the  Scourge. 

Ship  Br-  tus,  taken  by  the  Scourge  and  Rattesnake  ; 
given  up  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners. 

V/'estmoreland,  from  London,  partly  laden  with 
sugars  ;  taken  by  the  Scourge. 

The  Brothers,  of  126  tons,  from  Lancaster ;  by  the 
Scourge. 

Brig  Betsey,  180  tons  and  4  guns;  by  the  Rattle- 
snake. 

Brig  Pax,  of  200  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Galliot  Perseverance,  167  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  tho 
Rattlesnake. 

Sloop  Fame,  94  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Brig  Burton,  Ludlin,  of  266  tons,  and  4  guns,  from 
Onega  for  Hull ,  by  the  Scourge. 

Brig  Thetis,  114  tons  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Diligent,  250  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  the  Rattlesnake. 

Friend's  Adventure,  245  tons  and  4  guns  ;  by  the 
Rattlesnake: 

Brig  Hope,  260  tons,  4  guns,  cargo  of  linseed  ;  also 
the  Economy,  of  181  tons,  and  2  guns,  with  tar  ;  both 
from  Archangel  for  England  ;  by  the  Scourge. 

All  the  before-named  prizes  were  ordered  for  Dron- 
theim,  and  arrived  safe  at  that  port,  except  two  wnich 
"vere  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  one  laden  with  sugar, 
which  was  unfortunately  cast  away  on  her  passage  to 
Drontheim  ;  140  hhds.  of  sugar,  however,  were  saved, 
in  a  damaged  state 


Mi 
If.J 


[1814. 

Iritan- 

argocs 
D  lives 

,,  from 
2rs,  by 

ssnake  ; 

n    with 

;  by  the 

Rattle- 

;  by  the 

ms,  from 


lesnake. 
;  by  the 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


223 


[ar  ;  both 

for  Pron- 
two  which 
ith  sugar, 
)assage  to 
be  saved, 


The  Scourge  arrived  in  Drontheim  in  company  with 
the  Rattlesnake,  after  having  captured  the  above  vessels. 

The  aggregate  tonnage  of  these  vessels,  sent  into 
Norway,  amounted  to  4,505  tons,  numbering  60  guns. 

At  Drontheim,  the  Scourge  was  rcfittecl,  and  rig- 
ged into  a  brig,  for  a  new  cruise,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  J.  R.  Perry.  Captain  Nicoll  remained 
in  Drontheim  to  look  after  the  prizes. 

Here  follows  a  continuation  of  prizes  made  by  the 
Scourge,  and  other  incidents  relating  to  the  privateer 
schooner  Fox,  Brown  commander. 

The  Scourge  sailed  from  Drontheim  on  the  iOth 
March,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  off  Cape  Wrath, 
captured  the  British  ship  Symctry,  a  fine  vessel, 
from  Liverpool,  350  tons,  coppered,  laden  with  salt, 
crates,  hardware,  etc.  ;  in  company  with  ship  Winches- 
ter, of  400  tons,  from  the  same  place,  laden  with  salt, 
crates,  porter,  etc.  ;  and  brig  Union,  200  tons,  from  the 
same  port,  cargo,  tobacco  ;  all  bound  to  Long  Hope,  for 
convoy  :  burnt  ail  of  them.  Same  day,  boarded  a 
Swedish  ship  from  Liverpool,  and  put  part  of  the  pri- 
soners on  board  of  her. 

British  bark  Brothers,  260  tons,  from  Liverpool  for 
Long  Hope,  cargo  salt,  etc. ;  and  manned  her  for  the 
United  States.  Next  day,  captured  a  sloop  from  London  ; 
put  on  board  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  gave  her  up. 
*lth. — Chased  a  Greenland  whale  ship,  and  fired  ten 
broadsides  at  her,  which  appeared  to  cut  her  up  con- 
siderably. A  sloop-of-war  in  chase,  close  in  shore  on 
the  coast  of  Scotland,  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  pur- 
suit and  haul  off  to  get  clear  of  a  shoal.  The  sloop 
continued  the  chase  six  hours.  In  the  chase,  the 
Scourge  sprung  her  fore-topmast  badly. 

About  the  17th  of  April,  carried  away  both   top- 


224 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


:1'i' 


masts  (blowing  no  more  than  a  good  breeze),  by  which 
accident  one  man  was  killed  and  three  wounded. 

About  the  22nd,  lat.  50^  N.,  Ion.  30*^  W.,  captured 
the  British  ship  Caledonia,  300  tons,  from  Greenock  for 
Nova  Scotia,  in  ballast ;  put  on  board  twenty-six  prison- 
ers, and  gave  her  up.  A  few  days  after,  captured  a  brig 
from  Dublin  for  Quebec,  with  salt,  etc. ;  sunk  her.  Sanie 
day,  captured  a  brig  from  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  for  Liver- 
pool, cargo  lumber,  etc.,  having  on  board  a  number  of 
women  lind  children,  passengers  ;  took  out  some  rig- 
ging, sails,  etc.  ;  put  ten  prisoners  on  board,  and  gave 
her  up.  M.ay  1st,  lat.  47°,  Ion.  32^,  captured  a  brig 
from  Dublin  for  N.  F.,  cargo  cordage,  duck,  fishing 
gear,  etc.  ;  ordered  her  for  the  United  State,  dth,  lat. 
4^^  N.  Ion.  44*^  W.,  boarded  the  privateer  schooner  Fox, 
Brown,  forty  days  from  Portsmouth,  who  had  made  four 
prizes  ;  destroyed  two,  and  ordered  two  into  port.  She 
had  thrown  ten  guns  overboard  while  being  chased  by  a 
frigate.  She  had  chased  a  disguised  sloop-of-war,  and 
did  not  discover  the  mistake  until  close  aboard  her, 
when  she  opened  her  ports,  and  fired  two  broadsides 
into  the  Fox;  she,  however,  effected  her  escape.  Se- 
veral shot  struck  her,  and  one  went  through  her  arm 
chest,  and  broke  several  muskets.     No  one  was  injured. 

The  Scourge,  on  her  homeward  passage  from  Norway, 
after  leaving  the  coast  of  Scotland,  made  the  following 
prizes. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Leghorn,  with  an  exceedingly  rich 
cargo  of  silks,  oil,  sulphur,  marble,  etc. ;  sent  her  into 
New  York. 

Ship  Lord  Hood,  from  Quebec  for  London  ;  burnt. 

Brig  Trident,  from  the  same  place  for  the  same  port ; 
burnt. 

Brig  Haddock,  from  Quebec  for  London  ;  also  burnt. 


!|ipl 


[1814. 
■  whicli 

iptured 
lock  for 
prison- 
id  a  bri<^ 
'.   Same 
r  Liver- 
mbcr  of 
)me  rig- 
ind  gave 
I  a  brig 
:,  fishing 

Qth,  lat. 
mer  Fox, 
[ladc  four 
ort.  She 
ascd  by  a 
-war,  and 
Dard  her, 

oadsides 
ape.     Se- 

her  arm 
injured. 

Norway, 

following 

ingly  rich 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN    rillVATEERS. 


225 


Brig  Belfield,  from  Quebec  for  London ;  also  de- 
stroyed. 

During  this  cruise,  the  Scourge  made  420  prisoners, 
and  arrived  at  Chatham,  Cape  Cod,  in  May,  after 
having  been  absent  from  the  United  States  about  a  year. 
This  vessel  was  very  appropriately  named,  for  she  was,  in 
truth,  a  severe  scourge  to  the  enemy.  She  inflicted 
a  chastisement  upon  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain 
that  will  cause  her  name  to  be  remembered  for  several 
generations. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

British  brig  Brothers,  captured  by  tlie  ship  America, 
of  Salem,  and  sent  into  Fontarabia,  a  port  in  Spain, 
and  there  sold,  by  the  consent  of  the  government. 

The  privateer  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the 
English  brig  Elizabeth,  for  Kingston,  (Jamaica,)  and 
sent  her  into  Charleston.  Though  the  Elizabeth  was 
nominally  in  ballast,  she  had  on  board  a  quantity  of 
British  goods,  which  were  removed  to  the  privateer,  and 
taken  by  her  into  Charleston.  She  has  recently  sailed 
on  a  second  cruize. 

The  ship  Annette  Catharine,  said  to  be  a  Swedish 
vessel,  cleared  out  at  Boston,  in  ballast  for  the  West  In- 
dies, but  found  to  have  had  on  board  a  cargo  of  provi- 
sions. She  was  captured  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and  .-^cnt 
into  Charleston. 

The  Saucy  Jack  also  captured  the  British  schooner 
N^imble,  laden  with  log-wood,  and  sent  her  into  Beau- 
fort. 

The  Caroline  captured  the  schooner  Jason,  of  N'as- 
sau,  N.  P.,  divested  her  of  her  cargo,  and  set  her  on  fire. 

Schooner  ,  with  dry-goods  and   other  valuable 

articles,  captured  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  and  car- 
16 


22G 


TUE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


ried  into  Cape  Francois,  where  the  prize  and  her  cargo 
were  disposed  of. 

Schooner  Trinitaria,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  of  Charleston. 

Nine  valuable  British  vessels,  captured  by  the  priva- 
teer Prince  of  Neufchatel  (belonging  to  New  York),  on 
the  enemy's  coast ;  they  were  sent  into  France,  or  de- 
stroyed. 

Nine  vessels  captured  by  the  Comet,  of  Baltimore,  in 
the  West  Indies,  divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and 
destroyed. 

Four  vessels  captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed  in 
money. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  into 
North  Carolina.  The  privateer  arrived  at  Newberii, 
N.  C. 

Brig  Apollo,  250  tons,  6  guns,  of  Poole,  England, 
laden  with  1,000  hhds,  of  salt,  sent  into  Salem  by  the 
America,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Ann,  captured  by  ditto,  and  given  up  to  release 
the  prisoners. 

Cutter  Patty,  from  Scotland,  taken  by  ditto,  and  sunk. 

Brig ,  captured  by  ditto  and  sunk. 

Ship ,  in  ballast,   from  Liverpool  for  Antigua, 

sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  the  Invincible,  of 
Salem. 

Schooner  Encouragement,  from  Antigua  for  Nova 
Scotia,  laden  with  20  hhds.  of  sugar,  20  hhds.  of  molasses 
and  5  of  rum,  captured  by  the  Frolic  of  Salem  and  de- 
stroyed. 

British  brig  Two  Sisters,  from  Malaga  for  Holland, 
richly  laden  with  wine  and  fruits,  etc.,  captured  off  Cape 
Finnisterre  by  the  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent  into 
that  port. 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


227 


Schooner  Hope,  from  St.  Andrews  for  BarbaHoes, 
laden  ■•.vith  lumber,  beef,  oil,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Ame- 
rica, of  Salem,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Sylph,  of  Liverpool,  N.  S.,  laden  with  fish, 
oil,  etc.,  captured  by  ditto,  and  burnt. 

The  America  took  twelve  prizes  in  all,  several  of 
which  were  very  valuable.  She  had  arrived  at 
Salem,  with  fifty  prisoners  on  board.  She  had  also  40 
packages  of  dry-goods,  and  some  other  articles  taken 
from  her  prizes,  several  of  which  are  yet  to  be  heard 
of.  This  was  the  third  cruise  of  this  truly  fortu- 
nate vessel.  She  has  captured  in  the  whole  26  prizes  ; 
and  the  property  taken  and  safely  got  into  port  amounts 
to  about  $1,100,000, 

Schooner  Eclipse,  laden  with  salt,  captured  by  the 
Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  but  lost  on  Rockaway  beach. 
Long  Island. 

Schooner  Cobham,  of  Bermuda,  sent  into  Wilmington, 
N.  C  ,  by  the  Jonquilla,  of  New  York. 

Brig  Louisa,  laden  with  oil  and  fish,  sent  into  Eliza- 
beth City,  Ya.,  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore,  ship  Hebe, 
from  Halifax  for  Bermuda,  with  coal,  lumber,  etc.,  cap- 
tured by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore,  the  third  day  after 
she  left  the  Chesapeake,  and  sent  into  a  southern  port. 

Brig  Nimble,  with  a  cargo  of  West  India  produce, 
captured  by  the  Invincible,  letter-of-marque,  and  sent 
into  TenerifFe,  where,  as  the  vessel  was  not  sea-worthy, 
the  cargo  was  sold. 

Brig  Ceres,  in  ballast,  captured  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay 
by  the  Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  from  Bordeaux,  on  her 
way  home,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  70  hhds.  of  sugar,  captur- 
ed off  Martinique,  and  sent  into  New  Bedford  by  the 
Saratoga,  of  New  York. 


228 


TUE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


Schooner  Friends'  Adventure,  laden  with  CO  hhds.  of 
rum,  68  hhds.  of  molasses,  13  hhds.  of  sugar,  captured 
by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  sent  into  Wiscasset. 

Brig  Fanny,  of  London,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by 
the  letter-of-marque  ship  Galloway,  of  New  York,  Ou 
her  passage  from  France,  and  sent  into  Nantes. 

Brig ,  laden  with  lumber,  captured  by  the  Fox, 

of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Kentish,  with  a  full  cargo  of  sugar,  sent  into 
Fair  Haven  by  the  Saratoga. 

Schooner  Prince  Regent,  10  guns,  captured  by  the 
Invincible,  of  N.  Y.  ;  divested  of  her  armament,  etc., 
and  given  up.  Cutter  Lyon,  with  dry-goods,  hard- 
ware, etc.,  captured  by  the  same  ;  divested  of  tlic 
most  valuable  part  of  her  goods,  and  given  up.  Brig 
Portsea,  8  guns,  captured  by  the  same  ;  divested  of  her 
valuable  goods,  and  given  up.  Brig  Conway,  10  gmis, 
with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by  tlie  same  ;  took 
out  44  trunks,  35  cases,  and  23  bales  ;  she  was  manned, 
and  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Schooner  Francis  &  Lucy,  laden  with  fish,  oil,  and 
lumber,  captured  by  ditto,  and  given  up  to  the  pri- 
soners. 

The  Invincible  also  captured,  close  in  with  Teneriffe, 
the  brig  Margaretta,  laden  with  wine  ;  she  was  given 
up,  as  having  been  taken  within  the  Spanish  jurisdic- 
tion, for  which,  when  the  Invincible  put  into  Santa 
Cruz,  the  captain  and  crew  were  well  received  by  the 
governor.  The  privateer  arrived  in  Charleston  full  of 
valuable  goods. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  Siro,  of  Baltimore, 
bound  to  France,  has  been  captured  by  the  Enghsh, 
and  sent  into  Plymouth,  England. 

The  very  valuable   brig  Henry,    6  guns,   200  tons, 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


229 


coppered,  from  Liverpool  for  Buenos  Ayres,  laden  with 
300  packages  of  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles, 
invoiced  at  £  10,000  sterling  ;  sent  into  New  York  by 
the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  that  port.  The  bounty  (or 
the  reduction  of  duties)  allowed  by  the  United  States  on 
this  prize  amounted  to  about  $35,000. 

The  cargo  of  the  prize  ship  Nereid  has  been  disposed 
of  at  New  York.  The  gross  amount  of  the  sales,  ex- 
clusive of  the  jewellry,  was  $270,000. 

Schooner ,  sent   into   Beaufort,   N.   C,   by  the 

Snap  Dragon  ;  laden  with  mahogany. 

The  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  when  off  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  18th  of  April,  had  a  severe  en- 
gagement with  the  British  transport  ship  Lord  Somers. 
During  the  action.  Captain  Staples,  of  the  York,  and 
five  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  twelve  wounded.  In 
this  disabled  situation,  the  privateer  was  obliged  to 
haul  off,  and  give  up  the  contest. 

About  the  15th  of  May,  the  Mammoth,  Revenge, 
and  Fairy,  all  of  Baltimore,  were  cruising  off  St.  Bar- 
tholomews. 

Brig  James,  from  the  Isle  of  France  for  England, 
captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia  ;  divest- 
ed of  part  of  her  cargo,  manned,  and  ordered  into  port. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  same  ;  one  was  destroy- 
ed, the  other  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners.  The 
Young  Wasp  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  (May  28th),  with 
a  quantity  of  valuable  goods  on  board. 

Ship  Union,  from  Jamaica,  laden  with  sugar  and  cof- 
fee, captured  by  the  Rambler  ;  recaptured  by  the  Cur- 
lew, but  lost  near  Sambo  hghthouse. 

Brig  Fair  Stranger,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  oil,  etc., 
sent  into  Portsmouth  by  the  Fox  of  that  port. 

Brig ,  from  Lisbon  for  Passage,  with  provisions 


n 


'■I 


230 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


for  the  English  troops,  captured  and  destroyed  by  the 
Expedition,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Miranda,  captured  by  tlie  Chaaseur,  of  Bal- 
timore ;  divested  of  some  dry-goods,  and  burnt.  Sloop 
Martha,  laden  with  government  stores,  captured  by  the 
same  ;  divested  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo ; 
the  other  part  of  it  was  destroyed  :  she  was  then  made 
a  cartel  of,  to  release  the  prisoners.  Two  other  vessels 
were  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  destroyed  ;  one  of 
them  had  on  board  a  quantity  of  money  in  gold. 

The  very  valuable  schooner  Adeline  arrived  at  New 
York,  from  Bordeaux.  She  was  captured  four  days 
out,  by  a  British  frigate,  but  recaptured  by  the  Expedi- 
tion, six  days  after.  The  Adeline  had  dispatches  for 
government  and  4,000  letters,  all  of  which  were  thrown 
overboard  previous  to  her  capture  by  the  enemy. 

Brig  Experience,  from  Jamaica  for  Gonaives  cap- 
tured by  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  but  lost  on  the 
island  of  Cuba,  being  chased  ashore.     Crew  saved. 

The  veiy  valuable  ship  Experience,  from  England  for 
Amelia  Island,  with  a  full  cargo  of  dry-goods,  glass- 
ware, etc.,  etc.,  300  tons  burthen  ;  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  privateer  Rapid.  This  vessel  and  cargo  was 
valued  at  $250,000. 

Schooner ,  laden  with  rum,  cocoa,  etc.,  sent  into 

the  Delaware  by  the  Peny,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Francis,  with  bullocks  for  the  British  army, 
captured  off  the  French  coast  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Midas,  of  Baltimore,  on  her  passage  home,  and 
burnt. 

Schooner  Appallodore,  laden  with  450  boxes  of  fruit, 
captured  by  ditto,  and  sunk. 

Schooner  William  and  sloop  Irwin,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  sent  in  as  cartels,  with  59  prisoners. 


1814.] 


THE    AMEllICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


231 


Brig  Bclloiia,  ladcii  with  Madeira  wine  ami  fruit,  cap- 
tured l)y  the  Globe,  of  Baltimore,  and  hy  stress  of  wea- 
ther, compelled  to  enter  Barraooa,  (Cuba),  whore,  being 
condemned  as  unseaworthy,  the  vessel  and  cargo  were 
disposed  of. 

Sloop ,  cut  out  of  Carracoa  by  the  boats  of  the 

Saratoga,  and  sunk. 

Sloop  Cygnet,  from  Jamaica,  with  a  cargo  of  rum, 
sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  the  Saratoga  of  Xew 
York. 

Schooner  Diligence,  from  Halifax  for  St.  Johns,  rap- 
tured by  the  York,  of  Baltimore,  and  destroyed. 

Sloop  Bonita,  captured  by  the  Delisle,  of  Baltimore, 
and  destroyed. 

Brig  Robert,  with  fish  and  lumber,  from  St  Johns  for 
Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore, 
and  sent  into  Charleston. 

Ship  Equity,  from  London  for  Limerick,  captured  by 
the  Rattlesnake,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Adston,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

The  letter-of-marque  schooner  David  Porter,  of  New 
York,  was  obliged  to  hurry  off  from  La  Teste,  near  Bor- 
deaux. During  a  short  cruise  of  15  days  in  the  Bay  of 
Biscay  she  made  several  captures,  when  the  captain 
landed  on  I'Isle  Dieu,  and  sent  his  first  lieutenant  homo 
with  the  vessel.  On  her  return  passage,  she  made  two 
or  three  more  prizes,  and,  after  obtaining  a  full  cargo 
from  them,  she  arrived  safe  at  Boston,  with  ten  or  fifteen 
prisoners  on  board.  Her  crew  of  officers  and  men  only 
numbered  twenty-five  or  thirty  souls. 

Brig    ,    laden   with  rum   and   sugar,   sent  into 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  by  the  Rattlesnake,  of  Philadel- 
phia. 

Ship  James,  captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  divested 


232 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


of  $24,000  in  specie.    The  Jtimca  was  subsequently  re- 
cai)turo(l. 

Brig  Swift,  4  guns  and  15  men,  bound  for  Halifax, 
with  a  cargo  of  sundries,  sent  in  hy  the  Zebcc  Ultor,  of 
Baltimore. 

Brig  Camelion,  coppered,  from  the  West  Indies  for 
New  Brunswick,  laden  with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into 
an  eastern  port  by  the  Mammoth,  of  Baltimore. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  Caroline,  of  Baltimore, 
divested  of  their  valuable  articles  and  destroyed.  The 
Caroline  arrived  at  Charleston  ;  she  captured  three 
other  vessels,  which  were  manned  and  ordered  into 
port. 

Ship  Fortuna  (under  Russian  colors),  from  Havana 
for  Riga,  with  1,520  boxes  of  sugar,  sent  into  Beaufort 
by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk.  The  cargo  was  the  property 
of  the  enemy,  consequently  condemned. 

Schooner  Phoebe,  with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into 
AVilmington,  N.  C,  by  the  Hawk,  of  Washington. 

Brig  Kutozoff,  of  G  guns,  from  Laguira  for  Gibraltar, 
laden  with  coffee,  cocoa,  and  hides,  captured  after  a  very 
severe  action,  and  carried  by  boarding,  sent  into  Frank- 
fort, Maine  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore.  She  was 
worth  $50,000. 

Schooner  Young  Farmer,  from  Laguira,  laden  with 
indigo,  worth  $40,000,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
Henry  Guilder,  of  New  York,  and  brought  into  that 
port. 

Two  vessels  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque  James 
Monroe,  on  her  passage  from  L'Orient  to  Savannah,  and 
burnt. 

British  Polacca  ship,  Joanna,  of  Malta,  from  Constan- 
tinople for  Lisbon,  with  a  cargo  of  wheat  and  barley, 
worth  $30,000,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  sunk. 


18U.] 


TllK    AMKUICAN    I'lUVATEKnS. 


233 


The  Chasseur  eiipturcd  several  other  valuable  vessels 
on  the  same  cruise. 

The  elegant  ship  Pelham,  of  540  tons,  carrying  12 
guns  ;  a  vessel  of  the  first  class  I'roin  London  tor  Port- 
lUi-Prince,  laden  with  an  assorted  cargo,  491  paclcagos 
of  India  and  British  goods,  ca[)tured  after  a  smart  action 
by  boarding,  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston,  and  con- 
voyed into  that  port. 

The  passengers  of  the  ship  Pelham,  captured  l>y  the 
Saucy  .lack,  and  sent  into  Charleston,  have  publicly  of- 
fered their  grateful  thanks  to  Captain  Chazel  and  his 
odiccrs,  for  the  very  kind  treatment  they  experienced 
whilst  in  their  possession,  and  for  the  means  aflbrdod  for 
their  liberation. 

The  Baltimore  privateers  Patapsco,  Grampus,  and 
Syi-en,  had  recently  sailed  from  New  York. 

Schooner  Hope,  from  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland,  laden 
with  fish,  was  sent  hito  Saco  by  the  Pike,  of  Balti- 
more. 

Schooner  Pickrel,  from  Dartmouth,  England,  bound 
to  Quebec,  laden  with  dry-goods,  teas,  etc.,  captured  by 
the  same,  divested  of  her  cargo  and  destroyed. 

Ship  Askew,  from  Palermo  for  Belfast,  captured  by 
the  True-Blooded  Yankee,  and  sent  into  France. 

Schooner  Brilliant,  with  6  guns,  an  elegant  vessel  of 
157  tons,  late  a  New  Providence  privateer,  laden  with 
116  casks  of  spermaceti  oil,  41  bales  of  cotton,  logwood, 
etc.,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  privateer  Scourge,  of  New 
York,  on  her  return  to  the  United  States. 

The  Scourge  took  two  other  valuable  vessels  on  the 
same  cruise,  viz.,  on  her  return  from  Norway. 

Brig  Dove,  laden  with  lumber,  from  Liverpool  for  Nova 
Scotia,  captured  by  the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and 
burnt. 


■  I 


234 


TlIK    AMKUICAN    IMUVATHKHS. 


imi. 


Till!  Vox  also  {'jij)tuiH>'(l  tlio  Nliip  Jane,  in  bulliist,  from 
Scotland,  for  Mar.smashea,  diveatcd  and  given  np  to  re- 
leawe  the  iiri.sonei'H. 

kSliij)  Moimaid,  Hcnt  into  Daniariscotta,  Maine,  ladon 
with  .salt  and  coal,  by  tlio  General  I'ike,  of  ]ialti- 
uioiv. 

Ship  Commerce,  from  Limerick  for  Bilhoa,  laden  with 
180  tons  of  barley,  and  100  tons  of  oats,  for  the  British 
army,  captured  by  the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore.  The 
Commerce  arrived  at  Portland,  Maine. 

The  liritish  .ship  Upton,  from  Cork,  bound  for  New- 
foundland, was  captured  by  the  privateer  Diomede,  of 
Salem,  and  Hcnt  into  AViscasset.  The  Upton  was  270 
tons  burthen,  armed  with  10  guns,  and  104  men  (many 
of  them  wore,  however,  passengers).  She  made  consider- 
able resistance,  and  had  one  man  killed  and  another 
wounded  before  she  surrendered. 

The  brig  Providence,  from  Maryport,  England,  bound 
for  Nova  Scotia,  cai)tured  by  the  Diomede,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Mary})ort,  England,  was  also 
captured  by  the  same  vessel,  and  destroyed.  The  Har- 
mony was  bound  to  some  port  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Brig  Recovery,  from  Halifax  for  St.  Andrews,  driven 
ashore  by  the  Diomede,  and  destroyed. 

Brig  Melpomene  of  C  guns  laden  with  250  pipes  of 
wine,  sent  into  Newport,  R.  I.  by  the  Chasseur  of  Bal- 
timore. 

Brig  Britannia,  from  TenerifFe,  laden  with  wine,  sent 
into  Beaufort  by  the  same. 

Brig ,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  from  Jamaica 

for  England,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the  Roger,  of 
Norfolk. 

Schooner ,  sent  into  Newport  by  a  Baltimore 

privateer. 


1814.] 


TUK    AMKHICAN    PRIVATKEKS. 


2;{.') 


Ship  Henry  DuikIum,  for  Lisbon,  captuivd  l)y  the  Kat- 
tlosiiakc,  and  rolouHod  al'ter  divcHting  her  of  thu  most 
vahiahlc  part  of  lier  cargo. 

IJrig  Indian  La.ss,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Michaels, 
with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  l»y  the  (Irand  Turk,  of 
Sulein,  divested  of  her  dry-goods,  and  ordered  into  j)()rt. 
She  arrived  safely  at  Salem  with  the  balance  of  her 
merchandize,  which  was  worth  $05,000.  She  also 
brought  in  .')()  j)risoners. 

Brig  C^itharine,  from  Ijisbon  for  London,  captured  by 
the  Grand  Turk,  recaptured  by  the  British  brig  Bacchus, 
she  was  again  captured  by  the  Grand  Tiuk  and  sub.sc- 
quently  burnt. 

Sloop  Caroline,  from  London  for  St.  Michaels,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of 
her  cargo  and  then  given  up. 

The  Grand  Turk  took  several  other  vessels,  which  she 
ordered  into  port. 

Schooner  Traveller,  with  174  puncheons  of  rum,  etc., 
sent  into  Thomastown  by  the  Diomede,  of  Salem. 

Ship  Cod  Hook,  with  a  cargo  of  700  hhds.  of  salt, 
some  dry-goods,  crates,  flour,  bread,  and  iron ;  captured 
by  the  Diomede,  and  sent  into  Castine. 

Schooner  Victoria,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marquo 
cutter  sloop  Hero,  of  New  York,  on  her  passage  from 
France  ;  she  was  manned  and  ordered  for  an  American 
port,  but  was  soon  after  retaken  by  a  British  vessel-of- 
war,  and  the  American  prize  crew  were  all  taken  out 
but  one  man,  and  replaced  by  Englishmen.  After  be- 
ing in  possession  of  the  British  prize  crew  a  few  days, 
they  agreed  among  themselves  to  bring  her  into  the 
first  American  port.  She  was  a  fine,  large  schooner, 
laden  with  rum  and  molasses,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Charleston. 


230 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEE.IS. 


[1814. 


Tlie  very  valuable  cargo  of  the  Russian  ship  Joachim, 
which  was  sent  into  a  Southern  port  by  the  Caroline, 
was  condemned  as  British  property  ;  vessel  cleared. 

Schooner  Robert  Hartwell,  from  Antigua  for  Ber- 
muda, laden  with  sugar  and  molasses,  valued  at  $20,000, 
was  sent  into  Newbarn  by  the  cutter  Hero,  of  New 
York. 

Brig  Liddelle,  from  Liverpool  for  Newfoundland, 
with  salt,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore,  and 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  d: -pose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Jessie,  of  6  guns,  from  London  for  Newfound- 
land, laden  with  bread,  porter,  etc.,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Ann,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  dry-goods, 
captured  by  the  same,  divosted  of  her  effects,  and  sent, 
as  a  cartel,  to  Halifax. 

The  Diomede,  after  making  many  prizes,  was  herself 
captured  and  sent  into  Halifax,  June  25th. 

Several  valuable  prizes  made  by  the  Amelia,  were 
manned  and  ordered  into  port.  She  rrnVed  at  New 
York,  after  a  cruise  of  85  days,  during  wnich  time  she 
had  taken  1,400  tons  of  shipping,  with  property  valued 
at  $1,000,000.     She  also  made  80  prisoners. 

Two  vessels  were  captured  by  the  Hero,  of  Nev '  York, 
on  her  voyage  from  France,  and  ransomed. 

Schooner  Octavia,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the 
Harrison,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Funchall,  with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into 
Newbern,  N.  C,  by  the  Hero,  of  New  York. 

The  private  armed  schooner  Perry,  of  Baltimore,  was 
out  ninety  days  on  a  cruise,  during  which  time  she  cap- 
tured 22  British  vessels,  18  of  which  she  destroyed,  and 
sent  4  to  the  United  States.  The  editor  here  remarks, 
that  if  our  government  would  employ  fifteen  or  twenty 


-m- 


1814.1 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


237 


Joachim, 
Caroline, 
3ared. 
for  Bev- 

t  $20,000, 
>,  of  New 

tbundland, 
imore,  and 

N'ewfomul- 
•ed  by  the 

dry-goods, 
3,  and  sent, 

was  herself 

[nelia,  were 
ed  at  New 
time  she 
er^Y  valued 


such  vessel  to  carry  the  war  to  the  British  coasts,  it 
would  terribly  annoy  our  enemy.  Twenty  of  these 
schooners  properly  fitted  and  manned,  might  dash  across 
the  Atlantic,  and  destroy  two  or  three  hundred  vessels 
on  the  coast  of  England,  before  their  presence  would  bo 
suspected.  If  the  enemy's  ships  of  war  were  too  thick 
for  them,  they  might  return  home  with  very  little  loss, 
probably  not  more  than  two  or  three  of  them  would  be 
captured. 

July  23c?. — The  privateer  Surprise,  of  Baltimore, 
arrived  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  from  a  cruise  of  103 
days,  a  part  of  which  time  she  w  as  in  the  British 
and  Irish  Channels,  and  near  the  Western  Isles.  She 
was  chased  16  times,  and  made  in  all  13  prizes,  some  of 
which  arrived  safe,  several  others  were  burnt. 

The  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore,  in  passing  through 
Long  Island  Sound,  was  attacked  by  two  British  boats  ; 
fclie  captured  one  with  eight  men,  the  other  made  her 
escape.  The  commander  of  the  barge  was  killed;  and 
buried  at  New  London,  where  the  prisoners  were 
landed. 

Charleston,  July  21st. — The  privateer  schooner  Saucy 
Jack,  opened  a  rendezvous  yesterday  at  11  o'clock,  for 
the  enlistment  of  her  crew.  Before  5  p.m.  one  hundred 
and  thirty  able-bodied  seamen  were  shipped  in  six  hours, 
and  ready  to  engage  in  the  glories  and  dangers  of  an 
Atlantic  cruise.  Probably  such  a  thing  is  unprece- 
dented even  in  this  country,  so  remarkable  for  maritime 
enterprise  and  dispatch. 

The  elegant  ship  London  packet,  12  guns,  laden  with 
400  pipes  of  brandy  and  wine,  sent  into  an  eastern  port 
by  the  Chasseur,  of  Baltimore. 

The  British  brig  Astrea,  with  10  guns  and  20  men,  laden 


238 


THE    AMERICAN    rillVATEERS. 


[1814. 


with  fish,  was  taken  by  the  Midas,  and  sent  into  Sa- 
vannah. 

On  the  return  of  the  privateer  Midas,  from  a  cruise, 
when  off  Tybee  light,  she  fell  in  with  and  captured  a 
small  English  schooner  privateeer,  called  the  Dash  ;  she 
was  armed  with  one  long  gun,  and  several  small  ones, 
with  a  crew  of  40.  men. 

Previous  to  her  capture  she  had  taken  and  manned  3 
coasting  vessels  belongingto  Savannah,  laden  with  cotton  ; 
the  cargoes  of  the  three,  inclusive,  was  700  bales.  The 
Midas  immediately  sailed  in  pursuit  of  them,  and  had 
the  good  fortune  to  return  to  Savannah  with  the  three 
coasters,  after  an  absence  of  five  days. 

Schooner  Union,  with  fish,  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  port  by 
the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Friendship,  with  dry-goods,  and  $7,000  in 
specie,  captured  by  the  Revenge,  divested  and  de- 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Alert,  captured  by  the  same,  and  de- 
stroyed. 

Schooner  Mary  Ann,  taken  by  the  same,  divested,  and 
given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Sloop  Active,  captured  by  the  Fairy,  of  Baltimore, 
and  burnt. 

Brig  Lord  Nelson,  of  Belfast,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  with 
jerk  beef,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Nancy,  and  two  others  whose  names  are 
not  known,  captured  by  the  same,  divested,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and 

made  a  cartel  for  prisoners. 

Beside  the  before-mentioned  vessels,  two  other  small 
vessels  were  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt  ;  the  Zebec 
also  made  prizes  of  five  or  six  other  British  vessels. 


[1814. 
nto  Sa- 

\  cruise, 
ptured  a 
ish  ;  she 
all  ones, 

aaimed  3 
h  cotton ; 
es.  The 
and  had 
the  three 

0  port  by 

^7,000   in 
and  de- 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


239 


brig  of  14  guns 


which  were  permitted  to  proceed.     A 

was  manned,  and  ordered  for  France,  and  two  others 

were  sent  to  the  United  States. 

Portuguese  ship  St.  Jose,  from  Liverpool  for  Rio 
Janeiro,  with  dry-goods,  hardware,  etc.,  valued  at 
$500,000  or  $000,000,  said  to  be  British  property,  sent 
into  Portland  by  the  Yankee  of  Bristol. 

Privateer  schooner  Amnesty,  one  gun,  24  men,  cap- 
tured by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  Tickler,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  the 
same. 

Schooner  Rambler,  with  dry-goods,  sent  into  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C,  by  the  Perry,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Fairy,  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  2  guns 
mounted,  and  6  in  the  hold,  laden  with  (lour,  sent  into 
Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  the  same. 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  Bulaboo,  of  6  guns 
and  30  men,  captured  by  the  same,  after  some  resistance, 
and  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

The  ship  Friendship,  under  Swedish  colors,  from 
London  for  Lisbon,  with  a  cargo  invoiced  at  £100,000, 
sterling,  supposed  to  be  British  property,  sent  into  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  by  the  Herald,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Hugh  Jones,  from  Belfast  for  Guadeloupe,  with 
a  full  cargo  of  valuable  goods,  captured  by  the  Yankee, 
divested,  and  ordered  into  port.  This  privateer  had 
safely  arrived  from  her  fifth  successful  cruise. 

Schooner  Fox,  captured  off  the  Irish  coast  by  the 

Surprise,  was  made  a  cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  James  and  David,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 

same.   She  being  of  small  value,  was  allowed  to  proceed 

on  her  voyage. 

Brig  Fidelity,  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Ellen,  from  Belfast,  Ireland,    for   Lisbon, 


240 


THE    .\MERJCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


laden  with  beef,  pork,  and  lard,  sent  into  Beaufort,  N. 
C,  by  the  Herald  of  New  York. 

Brig  Duke  of  York,  of  Greenock,  captured  by  the 
General  Armstrong,  of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  George,  taken  in  sight  of  Ireland,  by  the  same, 
and  sunk. 

Brig  Swift,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and  made 
a  cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Defiance,  with  whiskey,  butter,  and  bread,  for 
Lisbon,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Friendship,  with  a  similar  cargo,  taken  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Brig  Stag,  with  a  very  full  and  very  valuable  cargo  of 
dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  some  articles, 
and  burnt,  a  British  frigate,  brig  and  schooner,  being  in 
sight.  The  priv^ateer  had  only  time  to  take  a  few  valu- 
able articles. 

Ship  Dorcas,  cut  out  of  Anguilla,  by  the  boats  of  the 
General  Armstrong,  and  sunk. 

During  the  last  cruise  of  the  General  Armstrong,  she 
made  several  prizes,  three  of  which  were  very  valuable. 
These  she  manned,  and  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  first 
port  in  the  United  States.  She  arrived  at  New  York, 
having  on  board  a  large  amount  of  valuable  merchan- 
dize, taken  from  the  enemy. 

Ship  Berry  Castle,  6  guns,  with  barilla  and  some  wine, 
captured  by  the  Yankee,  who  took  out  the  wine,  threw 
her  armament  overboard,  and  let  her  go. 

Schooner  Linnet,  with  fish  and  oil,  captured  by 
the  Snap-Dragon,  of  Newbern,  and  sent  into  that 
port. 

Schooner ,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  her 

valuable  articles,  and  burnt. 

Six  vessels  captured  in  the  English  channel,  and  sent 


[1814. 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    miVATEEUS. 


211 


ifort,  N. 
I 

by  the 

le  same, 

ud  made 

iread,  for 

n  by  the 

i  cargo  of 

LC  articles, 

■,  bemg  in 

few  valu- 


ats  of  the 

:roiig,  she 
valuable. 
:o  the  first 
ew  York, 
merchan- 

3ome  wine, 
rine,  threw 


into  Havre  do  Grace,  France,  by  the  Prince  of  Ncuf- 
chatcl. 

By  Loyd's  List,  the  3d  of  June,  there  were  thirty- 
seven  British  merchant  vessels  captured  by  American 
privateers,  all  within  a  few  weeks  ;  some  of  them  were 
reported  to  be  very  valuable  ;  many  of  these  prizes  were 
destroyed,  others  divested  of  their  cargoes,  while  the 
most  valuable  portion  of  them  were  sent  to  the  United 
States. 

On  the  IStli  of  June,  in  Boston  bay,  the  priva- 
teers Grampus,  Patapsco,  of  Baltimore,  and  the  schooner 
Dash,  of  Boston,  were  all  chased  by  Captain  Chapel,  in 
the  La  Hogue,  seventy-four.  Although  hard  pushed  for 
some  time,  the}''  were  fortunate  enough  to  make  their 
escape.  Captain  Chapel,  during  the  pursuit,  imagined 
he  had  one  or  more  of  them  within  his  grasp,  and  when 
he  found  they  had  all  made  good  their  retreat,  it  is  said, 
he  was  highly  exasperated  at  their  impudent  audacity, 
and,  of  course,  damned  all  the  Yankees  that  infested  the 
ocean  without  a  British  license. 


DESPERATE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  PRIVATEER  PRINCE  DE  NEDF- 
CHATEL,  OF  NEW  YORK,  COMMANDED  BY  CAFPAIN  ORDRONAUX. 
AND  A  LARGE  NUMBER  OF  BOATS,  BELONGING  TO  A  BRITISH  MAN- 
OF-WAR. 


The  Prince  de  Neufchatel  was  a  splendid  vessel,  of  31 0 
tons  burthen,  hermaphrodite  rigged,  mounting  17  guns, 
with  blunderbusses,  muskets,  boarding  pikes,  etc.  Her 
full  complement  of  men,  including  officers  and  marines, 
probably  amounted  to  150  souls,  when  she  left  New 
York. 

She  was  a  most  fortunate  vessel,  and  made  several  suc- 
oessfui  cruises  during  the  war,  causing  great  loss  to  the 
16 


242 


THE    AMERICAN    PIUVATEERS. 


fl8U. 


enemy.     Sho  was  chasccl  by  17  men-of-war  during  her 
present  cruise,  and  escaped  them  all. 

The  goods  she  brought  to  the  United  States  were  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  from  $250,000  to  $300,000,  besides 
having  on  board  a  considerable  amount  of  specie. 

At  noon,  on  the  11th  of  October,  off  Nantucket,  that 
island  bearing  north,  distant  about  half  a  mile.  Captain 
Ordronaux  discovered  a  frigate  off  Gay  Head,  which  gave 
chase  to  him,  and  while  the  privateer  lay  becalmed,  the 
frigate  took  a  fresh  breeze  and  came  up  very  fast. 

At  3  P.M.,  the  Neufchcitel  got  the  breeze,  and  took 
her  prize,  the  ship  Douglass,  in  tow  ;  the  frigate,  at  the 
same  time,  about  12  miles  from  the  privateer. 

At  7  in  the  evening,  it  fell  calm,  when  the  privateer 
and  her  prize  came  to  anchor  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  each  other,  as  the  current  was  sweeping  them  on 
shore. 

At  half-past  8  p.m.,  a  signal  was  made  from  the  prize 
that  several  boats  were  coming  from  the  frigate  to  attack 
them.  All  hands  were  then  called  to  quarters,  and  every 
preparation  made  to  give  them  a  warm  reception. 

As  the  boats  drew  near,  the  privateer  commenced  firing, 
which  the  enemy  disr'^garded,  and  were  soon  alongside. 
The  boats  were  five  in  number,  one  on  each  side,  one  on 
each  bow,  and  one  under  the  stern. 

A  warm  action  then  took  place,  with  muskets,  pistols, 
cutlasses,  etc.  In  every  attempt  the  enemy  made  to 
board,  he  was  promptly  met  and  repulsed. 

About  twenty  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  the  enemy  cried  out  for  quarters,  which  were 
granted. 

Of  the  five  barges  (which  contained  111  men,  includ- 
ing officers  and  marines),  one  was  sunk,  with  43  men,  of 
wliora  only  two  were  saved  ;  three  drifted  off  from  along- 


[18U. 
ng  her 

sre  csti- 
bcsidcs 

k 

/  • 

;Gt,  that 
Captain 
ich  gave 
nod,  the 

St. 

.nd  took 
,6,  at  the 

privateer 
of  a  mile 
them  on 

the  prize 

to  attack 

Eind  every 

ion. 

cod  firing, 

ilongside. 

le,  one  on 

ts,  pistols, 
made  to 


1814.] 


TUE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


243 


[3  men,ot 


side,  apparently  with  no  living  soul  on  board  ;  one  was 
taken  possession  of.  She  contained  3G  men  at  tlie  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  of  whom  8  were  killed,  20 
wounded,  and  8  unhurt.  It  was  then  ascertained  that 
they  were  from  the  British  frigate  Endymion.  They  were 
all  armed  with  blunderbusses,  pistols,  muskets,  boarding 
pikes  and  cutlasses. 

The  second  lieutenant  of  the  frigate  (F.  Ormond, 
who  was  unhurt),  3  midshipmen,  two  of  whom  were 
.severely  wounded,  with  one  master's  mate  also  wounded, 
were  permitted  to  come  on  board.  The  remainer  of  the 
prisoners  (15  seamen  and  marines),  were  kept  astern  all 
night  in  the  launch  ;  after  taking  out  the  arms,  oars, 
etc.,  the  commander  being  afraid  to  trust  them  on  bo.ird, 
liaving  only  8  men  fit  for  duty,  while  there  were  37 
prisoners  confined  below. 

The  Prince  de  Xeufchatel,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  had  only  thirty-three  men,  including  officers  at 
quarters.  After  the  battle  was  over,  it  was  found  that 
six  of  the  privateer's  crew  were  killed  ;  also  Mr.  Charles 
Hilburn,  a  Nantucket  pilot,  taken  out  of  a  fishing  vessel. 
There  were  also  fifteen  severely  wounded,  nine  slightly, 
and  eight  unhurt. 

The  next  morning,  the  lieutenant,  midshipman,  and 
master's  mate,  signed  an  agreement  in  behalf  of  them- 
selves, the  seamen  and  marines  pledging  their  honors 
not  to  serve  against  the  United  States  during  the  war 
unless  regularly  exchanged,  and  were  then  towed  on 
shore  at  Nantucket  in  the  privateer's  launch. 

Shortly  after.  Captain  Ordronaux  sent  fifteen  of  his 
other  prisoners,  and  fifteen  of  his  own  men  who  were 
wounded,  on  shore. 

All  the  prisoners  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  United 
States  Marshal.     In  his  enfeebled  situation.  Captain  Or- 


244 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


(1814. 


droiiaux  got  under  way  and  proceeded  to  Boston,  at 
which  place  he  arrived  on  the  15tli  October. 

It  wan  subsequently  ascertained  by  persons  from  Nan- 
tucket, that  the  British  acknowledged  a  loss  of  33  killed, 
37  wounded,  and  30  made  prisoners. 

Among  the  killed  were  the  first  lieutenant,  and  a  mas- 
ter's mate.  The  third  lieutenant,  two  master's  mates, 
and  one  midshipman  were  wounded. 

The  commander  of  the  frigate  said  he  had  lost  as 
many  men  as  he  should  have  done  if  engaged  with  a  ves- 
sel equal  in  force  to  his  own,  and  gave  great  credit  to 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  privateer,  for  their  gallant 
defence. 

He  had  111  men  in  the  attack.  He  said  that  a  part 
of  his  men  succeeded  in  gaining  the  deck  of  the  Prince 
de  Neufchatel,  but  that  the  Americans  then  rallied  and 
drove  them  overboard. 

The  foregoing  was  one  of  the  hardest  fought  battles 
that  occurred  during  the  war,  considering  the  number  of 
men  acting  on  the  defensive. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS, 

Brig ,  from  Madeira,  for  Liverpool,  captured  by 


the  Rambler,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  to  Canton.  She 
was  divested  of  80  or  90  casks  of  wine,  and  given  up, 
not  having  men  enough  to  send  her  to  the  United 
States. 

Frig  Fortitude,  from  Rio  Janeiro,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  hides,  coffee,  dye-wood,  etc.,  sent  into  Union  River, 
Maine,  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore. 

Schooner  George  Cannhig,  from  Spain,  for  England, 
laden  with  merino,  wool  and  fruit,  captured  by  the  Gen- 
eral Armstrong,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Thomastown. 

Ship  Pizarro,  from  Liverpool,  for  Amelia  Island,  with 


iipi" 


(1814. 
jtoii,  at 

m  Naii- 
]  killed, 

1  a  mas- 
i  mates, 

i  lost  as 
ith  a  ves- 
credit  to 
ir  gallant 

lat  a  part 
le  Prince 
lUicd  and 

it  battles 
umber  of 


1811.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    I'lUVATEERS. 


245 


)tured  by 
iton.  She 
I  given  up, 
le   United 

full  cargo 
ton  River, 


dry-good.s,  cratoH,  copper  and  salt,  sent  into  Savannah 
by  the  Midas,  of  lialtimore. 

Brig  Espiranza,  from  Amelia  Lsland  for  Havana,  with 
eotton,  rice,  and  flour,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Midas, 
of  Baltimore. 

Brig  Elsinorc,  from  Turk's  Island  for  Amelia  Islanl, 
with  salt,  sent  into  the  same  port  by  the  Midas. 

The  [)rivatecr  Harrison,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the 
following  liritish  vessels  :  ship   Julia,  hrig  Mary  Ann, 

schooner  John  Duncan, Louisa.     After  removing 

from  the  prizes  to  the  privateer,  valuable  goods  to  tho 
amount  of  £18,000  or  £20,000,  sterling,  she  gave 
up  two  of  them  and  destroyed  the  others. 

Schooner ,   with  a  large    amount  of  specie  on 

board,  captured  by  the  same,  and  manned  for  tho  United 
States.  The  Harrison  arrived  safe  at  Savannah  with 
her  rich  spoils. 

Brig  Betsy,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  from  Newfoundland 
for  Barbadoes,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  York,  of  Balti- 
more. 

Ship  Alfred,  in  ballast,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by 
the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore. 

Ship  Antonia,  under  Russian  colors,  from  Lisbon  for 
St.  Michaels,  laden  with  dry-goods,  brandy,  some 
hardware  and  crockery,  sent  to  a  southern  port  by  the 
same. 

Two  brigs  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

CAPTURE   OP   THE    BRITISH  PACKET  PRINCESS  ELIZiVBETH  BY  THE 
PRIVATEER  HARPY,  OF  BALTIMORE. 

In  September  the  Harpy  fell  in  with  the  British 
packet  Princess  Elizabeth,  and  after  a  warm  but  short 
action,  the  packet  surrendered.     She  had  three  men 


246 


TlIK    AMKUICAN  miVATEKRS. 


[1814. 


killed,  uiul  several  wounded,  and  was  much  cut  up  in 
her  sails  and  rigging.  The  privateer  had  one  man 
killed. 

The  Princess  Elizabeth  was  armed  with  10  guns,  and 
38  men,  8  twelve-pound  carronades,  and  2  long  hras.s 
nine-pounders  ;  she  had  on  board  as  })assengers,  a  Turk- 
ish Ambassador,  for  England,  an  English  ollicer.  Aid  to 
a  British  General,  and  a  second  lieutemmt  of  a  ' '  74." 
The  privateer  divested  the  j)acket  of  $10,000  in  specie, 
and  five  pipes  of  Madeira  wine,  with  two  long  brass,  and 
two  iron  guns  ;  the  remainder  of  her  arnniment  she 
threw  overboard,  and  ransomed  the  vessel  for  $2,000, 
and  then  allowed  her  to  proceed  on  her  course  to  Eng- 
land. 

Ship  Hero,  from  Newfoundland,  with  4,333  quintals 
of  cod-fish,   sent  into  Ilyannis  by  the  Ida,  of  Boston. 

East  India  Company's  ship  Countess  of  Harcourt,  520 
tons,  G  heavy  guns,  and  90  men,  outward  bound,  laden 
with  dry-goods,  brandy,  rum,  gin,  etc.,  separated  from 
the  fleet  in  a  gale,  and  captured  in  the  British  Channel 
by  the  Sabine  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  a  southern 
port.  This  British  East  Indiaman  was  a  very  valuable 
prize  to  her  captors. 

His  Majesty's    packet  ,  the  cutter    Landraile,   

guns,  33  men,  captured  after  a  hard  battle,  in  the 
British  Channel  by  the  Syren,  of  Baltimore,  divested, 
and  the  prisoners  taken  to  New  York. 

Two  brigs  captured  by  the  same  ;  one  burnt,  the  other 
released,  after  having  first  despoiled  her  of  the  most  val- 
uable part  of  her  cargo. 

Fourteen  enemy's  vessels,  captured  in  the  British 
Channel  by  the  Governor  Tompkins,  of  New  York,  di- 
vested them  of  their  valuable  articles,  and  destroyed 
them.     The  privateer  had  also  taken  six  other  prizes ; 


1814.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    rUIVATKKRS. 


247 


some  hIio  Imnit,  und  sonic  of  the  most  valuablo  slio  Hoiit 
to  tlio  IJnitod  SlatoH. 

Brig  IJetsoy  and  Mary,  from  Spain  for  l^ondon,  with 
wool,  etc.,  {nipturod  hy  the  Konip,  of  IJaltinioro,  divested 
of  105  bales  of  merino  wool,  and  bnrnt. 

Ship  Calypso,  under  Swedish  colors,  and  with  Swedish 
papers,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  30  bales  of 
dry-goods,  and  $8,000  in  specie,  belonging  to  the  pay- 
master of  the  41st  regiment  (who  was  paroled),  and  suf- 
fered to  proceed. 

Brig  New  Frederick,  from  Smyrna  for  Uull,  captured 
by  the  Kemp  (and  out  of  humanity  to  an  Italian 
lady),  permitted  to  proceed,  after  divesting  her  of 
some  articles.  The  Kemp  arrived  at  North  Carolina, 
from  Nantes.  She  obtained  her  cargo,  from  the  enemy 
which  was  exceedingly  valuable.  She  was  a  letter-of- 
niarque,  belonging  to  Baltimore. 

Schooner  Contract,  laden  with  salt,  sent  into  North 
Carolina  by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk. 

His  Majesty's  transport  brig  Doris,  captured  by  the 
Grampus,  of  Baltimore,  sent  into  Marblehead.  The 
Doris  was  from  Senegal,  bound  to  Portsmouth,  England, 
and  had  on  board  30  or  40  soldiers,  also  two  elegant 
horses,  one  hyena,  two  jackalls,  etc.,  presents  for  the 
Prince  Regent. 

Ship  Hoppet,  and  brig  Eliza,  from  Amelia  Island, 
bound  to  England,  sent  into  Savannah  by  the  Sau(\\' 
Jack,  of  Charleston. 

The  London  Gazette  of  June  21st,  officially  announced 
the  capture  of  the  American  privateers  Hawk  and  Polly, 
by  two  frigates. 

The  David  Porter,  privateer,  arrived  at  New  York  ; 
was  chased  nine  hundred  and  forty  miles,  by  a  frigate 
and  two  sloops  of  war. 


248 


Tin;    AMMUICAN    riilVATKKHS. 


[1814. 


The  Miiiniuotli,  [trivuteor,  (»('  Maltiinoiv,  was  doaling 
ck'.slructioii  to  till' cMioiny's  conmiurL'o,  ofl*  tlio  coast  of 
Nowr()ini<lhiii(l.  Slio  luul  an  action  willi  an  Eiigli.sh 
tijuisport  hIiIj),  with  three  or  fonr  hunih'ed  troojis  on 
hoard.  The  privatciT  had  one  man  wounded,  and  lind- 
iti;;llii'  tninsjtort  had  too  many  men  witli  muskets,  she 
lianlod  oil"  and  continued  on  her  cruise,  for  sometliiiig 
more  vahiable. 

The  York,  of  IJaltimore,  arrived  at  Boston,  fdliMl 
witli  tlie  ricliesl  spoils  of  several  vessels,  among  them, 
the  East  India  ship  Coromandel,  of  500  tons. 

The  privateer  Suri)ri'/o,  of  ]?altimore,  arrived  at 
Salem,  after  a  fortunate  cruise  of  one  month,  during 
which  time  she  captured  twenty  British  vessels  ;  some 
of  tliem  were  valuable,  these  she  ordered  into  port ; 
the  remainder,  amounting  to  eight  or  ten,  she  destroy- 
ed:  and  after  loading  the  privateer  with  valuable  goods, 
she  returned  into  port  to  discharge  her  cargo  and  refit 
for  another  cruise. 

Schooner  Mary,  with  dry-goods,  valued  at  £3,000, 
sterling,  from  Jamaica  for  St.  Domingo  ;  sent  into  New 
Orleans  by  the  Shark,  of  New  York. 

]5rig  Maria  Wirman,  from  Havana  for  Scotland,  with 
1500  or  ICOO  boxes  of  sugar  ;  sent  into  Ilyannis  by 
the  Yankee,  of  Bristol.  This  vessel  was  called  a 
Swede,  but  her  cargo  was  found  to  be  British  prop- 
erty. 

Cutter  Wasp,  captured  by  the  Rattlesnake,  privateer, 
off  the  English  coast,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Dover,  of  London,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

British  brig  Pike,  captured  by  the  privateer  Pike,  of 
Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Schooner ,  from  St.  John's,  N.  B.,  divested  of 


l^sU. 


THK    AMKUKJAN    I'HIVATKKIIS. 


240 


her  valuuMe  articles  by  tin;   l*ike,  und  miule  u  cuitel  of, 
to  (lis[)()so  of  lior  prisoners. 

JJritisli  schooner  Inihistrioua  Bee,  eiiptured  also  by 
the  IMke,  and  burnt. 

Schooners  Venus,  Ijord  Xclson,  und  l)ri;;  June,  also 
taken  by  the  Pike  ;  the  hist,  with  provisions  and  dry- 
iroods  ;  divested  of  part  of  lier  ear^o,  ami  nnule  a  cartel 
of,  to  dispose  of  the  prisoners.  The  other  two  ordered 
into  a  [lort  in  the  United  States. 

IJrig  Orient,  from  Portsmouth,  Kn^jjland,  forTenerille, 
with  dry-goods,  caj)tured  by  the  same  i)rivateer  j  di- 
vested of  her  valuable  goods,  and  suidt. 

lirig  John,  from  London  for  TenerifTe,  taken  by  the 
same,  and  burnt,  within  long-gun-shot  of  a  British  man- 
of-war  l)rig. 

The  Pike  captured  several  other  vessels,  which  were 
released  or  made  cartels  of.  This  privateer  was  subse- 
(juently  chased  ashore,  on  the  st)\ithern  coast,  and 
taken  possession  of  by  some  of  the  enemy's  vessels. 
A  part  of  the  crew,  however,  escaped  ;  the  remainder, 
forty-three  in  numbei-,  were  made  i)risoners.  She 
paroled  250  prisoners  during  her  cruise. 

A  British  brig  and  a  schooner  sent  into  Ocracock,  la- 
den with  fish  ;  by  the  Herald,  of  New  York. 

Ship  Samuel  Cummings,  400  tons,  laden  with  sugar 
and  coffee  ;  taken  by  the  Pike,  of  Baltimore,  but 
wrecked  on  the  southern  coast :  part  of  the  cargo  was 
saved. 

Ship  Five  Sisters,  captured  by  the  letter-of-marque 
schooner  Dash  ;  divested  of  200  puncheons  of  Jamaica 
rum,  and  permitted  to  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

Schooner ,  taken  by  the  Leech,  of  Salem,  and 

ransomed. 

Brig ,  200  tons,  an  assorted  cargo,  estimated  to 


250 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


1814. 


be  wortli  $30,000  ;  sent  into  Nowbern  by  the  Hero,  of 
that  place. 

Biig  Mars,  fi'oni  Mogadore,  captured  by  the  David 
Porter,  of  Boston  (the  Whig,  of  Baltimore,  in  com- 
pany); divestod  of  a  considerable  part  of  her  cargo,  and 
ordered  +0  a  pori  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Cornwallis,  taken  by  the  same  j  divested,  and 
made  a  cartel  of. 

Ship  Tester  from  Rio  Janeiro  for  England,  6  guns  ; 
captured  by  the  David  Porter  ;  divested  of  her  least 
bulky  and  most  valuable  articles,  and  ordered  into  port. 

])rig  Horatio,  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  for  England,  taken 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  ransomed  for  a  bill  of  exchange 
or  England  for  $20,000  ;  cargo  of  hides  and  tallow. 
During  her  cruise,  the  David  Porter  made  several  other 
prizes. 

Brig  Endeavour,  a  transport  vessel,  laden  with  sails, 
anchors,  army  stores  and  coal,  captured  by  the  Surprise, 
of  Baltimore,  and  destroyed  on  Rockaway  beach,  near 
New  York,  by  the  British  mci"'-of-war.  Cargo  partially 
saved. 

Cutter  Jubilee,  from  Teneriffe,  with  wine,  captured  by 
the  Whig,  divested  of  part  of  her  cargo,  and  made  a 
cartel  of,  to  dispose  of  her  prisoners. 

Schooner  Alexandria,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same 
and  burnt. 

British  brig  Irish  Minor,  captured  b;y  the  Whig,  and 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Princess  Mary,  from  Ireland,  for  London,  with 
government  provisions  ;  also  captured  by  the  Whig,  and 
destroyed. 

Brig  Eliza,  from  the  same  place,  to  the  same  port,  rL  ^ 
captured  by  the  Whig  ;  cargo  thrown  overboard  aJid 
vessel  made  a  cartel  of. 


■ 


1814.1 


Tin:    AiMEUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


251 


British  Schooner  Espdrance,  from ,  for  Corunim, 

Spain,  captured  by  the  same  and  destroyed. 

Ship  London,  from  Merimachi,  for  Liverpool,  with  tim- 
ber, also  captured  b}  the  Whig  and  burnt. 

Sliip  Postetii  ell,  from  Cork,  for  Merimachi,  in  bal- 
last, captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

The  Whig  made  several  other  prizes  on  this  cruise, 
and  arrived  at  New  York  with  some  goods,  and  23 
prisoners.  She  also  made  some  prizes  in  company  with 
the  David  Porter. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Liverpool,  for  Halifax,  laden  with 
dry-goods,  captured  by  the  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth, 
divested  of  318  bales  and  packages  of  goods,  invoiced 
at  £27,000,  sterling,  and  ordered  into  port.  Thif  was 
a  great  prize.  The  privateer,  with  her  rich  spoils,  safely 
arrived.     (See  Appendix.) 

A  sloop,  from  Halifax,  captured  also  by  the  Ports- 
mouth, divested  of  her  valuable  goods,  and  given  up  to 
the  prisoners. 

Schooner  Columbia,  from  Halifax,  for  Barbadoes,  with 
fish  and  lumber,  worth  $4,000,  captured  and  sent  into 
Newburyport,  by  the  Portsmouth. 

Brig  Fire  Fly,  from  Smyrna,  for  London,  with  a  full 
cargo  of  drugs,  wines  and  silks,  brought  into  Wilming- 
ton, North  Carolina,  by  the  Sabine,  of  Baltimore. 
The  privateer  safely  arrived,  and  had  on  board  the 
optima  spolia  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  She  took  goods 
to  the  amount  of  $100,000. 

Brig  Mary  and  Eliza,  from  Halifax,  laden  with  lum- 
ber, etc.,  captured  by  the  Argo,  of  Baltimore,  and 
chased  ashore  near  Barncgat,  where  she  was  burnt. 

Schooner ,  with  a  cargo  of  provisions,  sent  into 

an  eastern  port  by  the  same  privateer  Portsmouth,  of 
Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


252 


THE    AMERICAN    FRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


Bi'ig  Argo,  from  Dublin,  with  100  puncheons  of  Irish 
whiskey,  a  quantity  of  port  wine  and  provisions,  sent  into 
Portland  by  the  Surprise,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig ,  laden  with  rum  and  molasses,  sent  into  a 

southern  port  by  the  Grampus,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Farmer,  with  provisions,  captured  by  the  Mam- 
moth, of  Baltimore,  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  and 
sunk. 

The  Mammoth  also  captured  brig  Britannia,  from  St. 
Andrews,  for  Liverpool,  with  lumber  ;  she  not  being  of 
much  value,  was  destroyed  by  the  captors. 

Three  other  brigs,  in  ballast,  bound  to  Pictou  and 
Merimachi,  were  captured  by  the  same  privateer  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Ceres,  of  Glasgow,  with  brandy,  etc.,  divested 
and  given  up  to  release  the  prisoners,  by  the  same. 

The  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  captured  the  fol- 
lowing vessels,  namely  :  The  British  brig  Harvest,  laden 
with  furs,  seal  skins,  oil  and  salmon,  and  manned  her 
for  the  United  States.  British  brig  Wilham,  10  guns, 
and  14  men,  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  with  350  tons  of 
sugar,  with  a  large  quantity  of  coffee,  and  sundry  other 
articles  ;  ordered  her  into  an  American  port.  The  brig 
Rover,  from  Havana,  for  Guernsey,  laden  with  sugar 
and  coffee,  sent  her  to  a  port  in  the  United  States. 
Sloop  Regulator,  of  Nantucket,  re-captured  by  the 
York  ,  she  had  a  valuable  cargo,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Chatham,  Cape  Cod. 


if ! 
\m 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


A  SHORT  CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OP-MARQUE-SCnOONEll  LEO,  GEORGE  COOOI'MHAM.,  COM- 
MANDER, FROM  li'ORIENT  TO  CHARLESTON,  AND  HER  CAITURE  IN  THE  TEARS  1814  AND 
1815— PREPARE  AND  FIT  OUT  THE  LEO  AT  l' ORIENT — DIHARMED  UY  ORDER  OF  THE 
PRflN'CH  OOVERNJIENT — SAIL  FROM  l'oRIENT — PROCEED  TO  THE  ENGLISH  CHANNEL — 
CAPTURE  SEVERAL  PRiZFa — OOHPEI.LED  TO  LEAVE  THE  CHANNEL  AND  8TEBR  TO  THE 
SOUTHWARD,  ON  ACCOUNT  OF  BEING  BADLY  AHMED,  AND  VERY  DEFICIENT  IN  SAILS 
AND  RIGGING — ARRIVE  OFF  LISBON — DISMASTED  WHILE  IN  CTIASE  OF  A  BRITISH 
PACKET — TAKEN  BY  THE  OHANICUS  FRIGATE,  AND  TOWED  ROUND  TO  GIBRALTAR- 
PROCEED  IN  THE  GHANieUS  TO  TETUAN  BAY,  MOROCCO — RElCRN  TO  OIBUALTVtt  — 
REFUSAL  OP  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  THAT  PLACE  TO  PAROLE  C  iPTAIN  AND  OFFICERS— EX- 
AMINATION AT  THE  ADMIRALTY  OFFICE — JSCAPE  FROM  THE  GARRISON — GO  ON  BOARD 
A  NORWEGIAN  GALLIOT — HUBBUB  AND  CONFUSION  IN  GIBRALTAR  TO  FIM)  THE  CAP- 
TAIN OF  THE  LEO— TAKE  PASSAGE  TO  ALGECIRAS  WITH    A  GANG   OF    SMUGGLERS — R;.- 

SIDE  WITH  THE  FAMILY  OP    THE    CAITAIN  OF  THE    GANG AIDED  AND  PROTECTED   IIV 

THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL,  HORATIO  8PRAGUE,  ESQ.— LI^AVB  ALGIX'IRAS,  IN  DISGUISE, 
FOR  C.VDIZ — REMARKS  ON  THAT  llEOION  OP  COUNTRY — ARRIVE  AT  CADIZ— KIND  RE- 
CEPTION AT  THAT  PLACE  BY  HIS  OLD  FRIF^'DS  AND  COUNTRYMt:N-r-RF.SIDENCK  AT 
CADIZ— THEATRES  AND  BULL-FIGHTS — SAIL  FROM  CADIZ  FOR  I-ISBON  IN  A  PORTU- 
GUESE VESSEL. 


CRUISE  IN  THE  LETTER-OF-MARQUE  SCHOONER  LEO,  FROM  L'ORIENT 
TO  CHARLESTON,  WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  HER  CAPl'URE. 

The  Leo  was  a  fine  Baltimore  built  vessel  of  320  tons, 
a  remarkably  fast  sailer,  and  in  every  respect  a  superior 
vessel.  She  was  lying  in  the  harbor  of  L'Orient  on  the 
1st  of  November,  1814,  and  was  then  owned  by  Thonas 
Lewis,  Esq.,  an  American  gentleman,  residing  in  Bor- 
deaux. On  the  2nd  of  November,  she  was  purchased  by 
an  association  of  American  gentlemen  (then  in  France\ 
placed  under  my  command,  and  her  commission  as  a  let- 
ter-of-marque  indorsed  over  to  me  under  the  sanctOn  of 
the  Hon.  William  H.  Crawford,  who  was  at  that  time 
our  Minister  at  Paris.  It  was  determined  that  I  shouM 
make  a  short  cruise  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  a  few 

(253) 


264 


THE    AMKRICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


prizes  from  the  eiiciny,  and  then  proceed  to  Charleston 
for  a  cargo  of  cotton,  and  return  to  France  as  soon  as 
possible. 

As  there  were  at  this  time  quite  a  number  of  Ameri- 
can seamen  in  Bordeaux,  Nantes  and  L'Orient,  supported 
by  the  government  of  the  United  States,  through  the 
consuls  at  those  ports,  it  was  desirable  to  take  home  as 
many  of  them  as  the  schooner  could  conveniently  accom- 
modate. I  took  with  me,  a^i  first  officer,  Mr.  Pierre  G. 
Depeyster,  and  left  Bordeaux  by  dihgence,  for  L'Orient. 
On  our  way  we  stopped  a  day  or  two  at  Nantes,  where 
I  engaged,  with  the  consent  of  our  consul  at  that  port, 
forty  seamen  and  two  petty  officers. 

Mr.  Azor  0.  Lewis,  a  fine  young  man,  brother  of  the 
former  owner  of  the  Leo,  was  one  of  my  prize  masters, 
and  to  him  I  committed  the  charge  of  bringing  about 
forty  more  seamen  from  Bordeaux  to  L'Orient.  The  res- 
idue of  the  officers  and  men  were  picked  up  at  L'Orient, 
with  the  exception  of  four  or  five  of  my  petty  officers, 
who  came  up  from  Bordeaux  to  join  the  schooner  at 
L'Orient. 

Early  in  November  wc  commenced  fitting  her  for  sea. 
We  found  her  hull  in  pretty  good  order,  but  her  sails 
and  rigging  were  in  a  bad  state.  I,  ho\yever,  set  every 
thing  in  motion,  as  actively  as  possible,  and  put  in  requi- 
sition sailmakers,  blockmakers,  blacksmiths,  etc.,  etc. ; 
while  others  were  employed  taking  in  ballast  and  filling 
wjfter  casks,  in  fine,  hurrying  on  as  fast  as  possible,  be- 
fore we  should  be  stopped. 

The  English  had  so  much  influence  with  the  new  gov- 
ernment of  Louis  XYIII.  that  I  felt  extremely  anxious 
to  get  out  on  the  broad  ocean  without  delay,  and  there- 
fore drove  on  my  preparations  almost  night  and  day. 

After  ballasting,  I  took  on  board  3  tons  of  bread,  30 


[1814. 

larleston 
!  soon  as 

■  Amcri- 
apportcd 
)Ugh  the 
homo  as 
[y  acconi- 
Pierrc  G. 
L'Orient. 
3S,  whcro 
that  port, 

er  of  the 
5  masters, 
ing  about 
The  res- 
L'Oricnt, 
J  officers, 
liooner  at 

er  for  sea. 
her  sails 
set  every 
in  requi- 
etc.,  etc. ; 
and  filUng 
ssible,  be- 
new  gov- 
y  anxious 
and  there- 
id  day. 
bread,  30 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


barrels  of  beef,  15  ditto  of  pork,  and  other  stores  to  cor- 
respond, being  enough  for  fifty  days. 

I  got  ready  for  sea  on  the  Gtli  of  November.  My  crew, 
including  the  officers  and  marines,  numbered  about  one 
hundred  souls,  and  a  better  set  of  officers  and  men  never 
left  the  Dort  of  L'Orient.  But  wo  were  miserably  arm- 
ed ;  we  had,  when  I  first  took  connnand  of  the  schooner, 
one  long  brass  12-pounder,  and  four  small  4-pounders, 
with  some  fifty  or  sixty  poor  maskots.  Those  concerned 
in  the  vessel  seemed  to  think  we  ought,  with  so  many 
men,  to  capture  prizes  enough,  oven  without  guns. 

With  this  miserable  armament,  I  was  now  ready  for 
sea,  and  had  dropped  the  schooner  down  near  the  mouth 
of  the  outer  harbor,  and  was  only  waiting  for  my  papers 
from  Paris,  to  proceed  on  my  intended  voyage  ;  when 
to  my  severe  mortification,  I  was  ordered  by  the  public 
authorities  to  return  into  port,  and  disarm  the  vessel. 
The  order  was  imperative,  and!  was  of  course  compelled 
to  obey.  I  accordingly  waited  on  the  commanding  offi- 
cer of  the  port,  and  told  him  it  was  a  hard  case  not  to 
allow  me  sufficient  arms  to  defend  my  vessel  against  the 
boats  of  the  enemy. 

Ho  politely  told  me  he  was  sorry,  but  that  he  must 
obey  the  orders  of  his  government,  and  that  I  must  take  out 
all  the  guns  except  one,  and  at  the  same  time  laughingly 
observed  that  one  gun  was  enough  to  take  a  dozen  Eng- 
lish ships  before  I  got  to  Charleston. 

I,  of  course,  kept  the  long  12-pounder,  and  in  the  night 
smuggled  on  board  some  twenty  or  thirty  muskets.  In 
this  situation  I  left  the  port  of  L'Orient,  on  the  8th  of 
November,  1814,  and  stood  out  to  sea  in  the  hope  of 
capturing  a  few  prizes.  After  getting  to  sea  we  rubbed 
up  the  muskets,  and  with  this  feeble  armament  steered 
for  the  chops  of  the  British  Channel.     I  soon  found  that 


256 


THE     AMIJlllCAN     PUIVATEERS. 


[1814, 


^^ 


mi 


when  the  weather  was  good  ami  the  sea  smooth,  I  could 
take  merchaiitinoii  enoiigli  by  boarding  ;  but  in  rough 
weather  the  travolhng  12-i)ounder  was  but  a  poor  reh- 
ancc,  and  not  to  be  depended  upon  like  the  long  centre 
gun  that  I  had  on  board  the  David  Porter. 

It  is  true,  my  officers  and  men  were  alwa}  s  ready  to 
board  an  enemy  of  three  times  our  force  ;  but,  in  a  liigli 
sea,  if  one  of  these  delicately  Baltimore  built  vessels 
should  come  in  contact  with  a  large,  strong  ship,  the 
schooner  would  inevitably  be  crushed  and  sunk.  For 
this  reason,  I  was  compelled  to  let  one  large  English  ship 
with  twelve  guns  escape  while  in  the  English  Channel, 
because  the  weather  was  too  rough  to  board  her. 

November  IWi. — \.i  six  p.  m.  sounded  in  sixty-live 
fathoms  water,  the  Scilly  Islands  bearing  N.W.  fifteen 
leagues  distant.  Light  winds  and  variable  through  the 
night.  At  G  a.m.  saw  a  brig  to  windward.  At  7  ditto 
she  set  English  colors  ;  gave  her  a  gun,  when  she  struck 
her  flag.  She  proved  to  be  an  English  brig  from  Leg- 
horn, bound  up  the  Channel.  It  now  commenced  blow- 
ing a  strong  breeze  from  the  N.W.,  and  soon  there  was 
a  high  sea  running.  Saw  a  largo  ship  steering  up  the 
Channel ;  left  the  prize,  made  sail  in  chase  of  her.  At 
10  A.  M.  she  set  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun.  Had 
the  weather  been  smooth,  I  think  we  could  have  carried 
her  by  boarding  in  fifteen  minutes,  or  had  I  met  her  at 
sea,  I  would  have  followed  her  until  the  weather  was 
better,  and  the  sea  smooth  :  but  being  now  in  the  Eng- 
lish Channel  with  a  high  sea,  it  would  have  destroyed 
my  schooner  if  she  had  come  in  contact  with  this  vvall- 
sided  ship.  She  showed  six  long  nines  on  each  side. 
After  exchanging  a  few  shot,  I  hauled  off,  and  returned 
to  our  prize. 

Nov.  lith. — Fresh  breezes  and  cloudy  weather.     At 


[1814. 

I  coiiUl 
i\  rough 
)or  reli- 
rr  centre 

n 

ready  to 
in  a  liigli 


ISM.] 


THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


257 


t    VI 

5lnp,  the 
Ilk.  I'or 
glisli  ship 
Channel, 

er. 
sixty-five 
W.  liftcen 
rough  the 
At  7  ditto 
she  struck 
from  Leg- 
U'cd  blow- 
there  was 
ng  up  the 
her.     At 
vun.    Had 
lvc  carried 
,et  her  at 
eather  was 
^n  the  Eng- 
destroyed 

.1  this  vvall- 

each  side. 

,(1  returned 

iather.    At 


2  p.  M.  the  weather  moderated,  when  I  took  out  of  the 
English  prize  brig  the  captain,  mate,  tlnd  crew,  and  put 
on  board  of  her  a  prize-master  and  seven  men,  with  or- 
ders to  proceed  to  a  port  in  the  United  States.  At  1 1*.  v.. 
saw  a  sale  to  windward,  when  we  made  sail  in  chase. 
At  8  ditto  it  became  dark  and  squally ;  lost  sight  of  the 
chase.  At  8  A.  m.  saw  our  prize  ahead  ;  we  soon  came 
up  with  her,  when  I  supplied  her  with  two  casks  of  wa- 
ter and  a  quantity  of  bread,  and  left  her  to  proceed  on 
her  course  to  the  United  States. 

Nov.  16th. — Fresh  gales  from  the  westward,  with  a 
rough  sea  running.  Middle  and  latter  part  of  these 
twenty-four  hours,  the  wind  continued  to  blow  strong 
from  the  westward,  with  a  high  sea.  As  it  was  now  the 
middle  of  November,  and  no  prospect  of  much  fine 
weather,  and  my  schooner  so  badly  armed,  I  concluded 
to  leave  this  rough  cruising  ground  and  run  to  the  south- 
ward, in  hopes  of  finding  better  weather,  where  I  could 
profit  by  a  superior  number  of  men  in  making  prize-; 
Lat.  47"  28' North. 

Nov.  11th. — At  3  p.  M.  boarded  the  Spanish  brig  Alon- 
zo,  from  TenerifTe,  bound  to  London.  On  board  of  this 
vessel  I  put  the  late  captain  of  our  prize  brig. 

Nov.  18th.- — Light  winds  and  fine  w^eather  ;  a  man-of- 
war  brig  in  chase  of  us,  about  tw^o  miles  distant.  At  8 
p.  M.  light  breezes  from  the  southward  ;  passed  near  a 
brig  standing  to  the  eastward  ;  had  not  time  to  board 
her,  as  the  man-of-war  was  still  in  chase.  At  midnight 
the  wind  became  fresh  from  the  W.S.  W.,  with  dark,  rainy 
weather.  Took  in  all  the  light  sails,  and  hauled  closa 
upon  the  wind  to  the  W.N.W.  At  7  a.  m.  saw  a  small 
sail  on  our  weather-bow  ;  made  sail  in  chase.  At  10 
ditto  came  up  w4th  and  captured  the  chase  ;  found  it  was 
17 


258 


THE    AMKniCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


un  l']nf,'lish  cutter,  from  TenerifTe,  bound  to  London,  with 
a  cargo  of  wine. 

Nov.  \^tli. — Strong  gales  from  the  northward,  and  a 
high  sea  running.  At  meridian  took  out  of  the  prize 
twenty  quarter  casks  of  wine,  together  with  her  sails, 
cables,  rigging,  blocks,  t^c,  and  after  removing  the  pris- 
oners, scuttled  her.  At  1  r.  m.  she  sank.  At  7  a.  m.  saw 
a  sail  to  windward  ;  tacked  ship  to  get  the  weather-gage. 
At  11  ditto  got  her  on  our  lee  beam,  when  I  made  her 
out  to  be  an  English  brig-of-war  of  sixteen  guns.  I  com- 
menced firing  my  long  twelve.  At  noon,  after  receiving 
about  thirty  or  forty  shot  from  the  enemy,  without  any 
material  damage,  I  hauled  off.  Some  of  his  shot  passed 
over  us,  some  fell  short ;  and  only  one  hulled  us :  this 
shot  passed  through  our  bends  amid-ships,  and  lodged  in 
the  hold.  I  could  outsail  him  with  the  greatest  ease, 
and  if  I  had  had  a  long  well-mounted  centre  gun,  I  could 
have  annoyed  him  without  receiving  any  injury  by  keep- 
inii;  just  out  of  the  reach  of  his  carronados. 

Nov.  21st. — Fresh  winds  from  the  N.N.E.,  and  squally 
weather.  At  meridian  saw  a  sail  bearing  W.S.W.  ;  made 
sail  in  chase.  At  4  p.  M.,  she  being  directly  to  leeward, 
I  ran  down  to  discover  the  character  of  the  chase  ;  I  soon 
made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate.  When  within  three  miles 
distance,  I  hoisted  an  English  ensign.  The  frigate  showed 
Portuguese  colors,  and  resorted  to  every  stratagem  in 
his  power  to  decoy  us  down  within  the  range  of  his  shot. 
Finding  I  could  outsail  him  with  ease,  i  hauled  down  the 
English  colors,  set  an  American  ensign,  and  hauled  close 
upon  the  wind,  and  soon  lost  sight  of  her.  During  the 
night  we  had  fresh  gales  at  E.N.E.,  and  squally  weather. 
At  7  A.  M.  saw  a  small  sail  bearing  S.S.W.  ;  made  sail 
in  chase.     I  soon  came  up  with  and  boarded  an  English 


1814.] 


TIIR    AMERICAN    rRIVATrERS. 


269 


receiving 


schooner  from  Malaga,  hound  to  Dublin,  with  a  cargo  of 
fruit.  Took  out  the  prisoners  and  a  supply  of  fruit,  and 
then  manned  her  and  gave  orders  to  the  prize  master  to 
make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  United  States.  Lat,  by 
account  ifr  83'  N. ;  long.  12^  0'  W. 

Nov.  12(1. — -Light  airs  and  fine  pleasant  weather.  At 
3  p.  M.  came  up  with  and  boarded  a  Danish  galiot ;  at 
12  o'clock,  inidnight,  put  ten  English  prisoners  on  board 
of  her.  I  supplied  them  with  provisions  and  a  quarter 
cask  of  wine,  atid  the  galiot  proceeded  on  her  voyage. 

Nov.  23r/. — Fresh  gales  from  the  southward,  with 
dark,  rainy  weather.  At  1  r.  m.  wore  ship  to  the  S.E. 
in  chase  of  a  brig  ;  at  three  came  up  with  and  spoke 
her.  She  proved  to  be  a  Prussian  from  Oporto,  bound 
to  Hamburg,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  and  fruit.  Middle 
part  of  the  twenty-four  hours,  strong  gales  from  tho 
N.N.W.  At  noon  discovered  two  frigates  to  leeward. 
They  both  made  sail  in  chase  of  me.  I  plied  to  wind- 
ward, tacking  every  hour,  and  beat  them  without 
difficulty  ;  but,  as  there  were  two  of  them,  I  was  not 
(luite  at  ease  until  I  had  got  out  of  their  neighborhood. 

Nov.  24:th. — Fresh  gales  from  the  N.W.,  and  squally, 
with  showers  of  rain  and  a  high  head-sea  running ;  the  two 
frigates  still  in  chase  of  us.  At  5  p.  m.  the  weathermost 
frigate  was  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant  to  leeward  ; 
finding  I  could  beat  them  with  so  much  ease,  I  reefed 
the  sails,  and  plied  to  windward.  Towards  morning  the 
wind  moderated,  and  at  daylight  there  was  nothing  in 
sight.     Lat.  by  obs.  44^  34'  N.,  long.  15°  8'  W. 

Nov.  26th. — Moderate  breezes  from  the  westward, 
and  fine  weather.  At  3  p.  m.  discovered  a  sail  bearing 
about  S.E.  ;  made  sail  and  bore  away  in  chase.  At 
half-past  three  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate,  when  T 
hauled  upon  the  wind.     At  four  ditto  she  fired  a  gun, 


260 


THE     AMKUICAN     I'UIVATEERS. 


fl814. 


and  showed  Aiiioricjin  colorn.  I  .sot  an  American  ensign 
for  a  few  niiniites,  and  tlien  luiuled  it  down  and  hoiMtud 
a  large  English  ensign.  She  fned  thi'ee  or  Ibnr  shot, 
but  finding  they  fell  short,  stopped  firing,  and  cro wiled 
all  sail  in  chase  of  me.  Night  coming  on,  I  soon  lost 
sight  of  her. 

Nov.  2Gth.  Strong  gales  from  the  W.N.W.,  and 
thick,  squally  weather.  At  1  i\  M.  discovered  a  sail  to 
the  windward,  bearing  N.W.  ;  made  sail  in  chase,  tack- 
ing every  hour.  At  5  ditto,  made  him  out  to  be  a  ship 
standing  upon  the  wind  to  the  N.E.  At  half-past  ', 
o'clock,  after  getting  on  his  weather  (juarter,  ran  up 
along  side,  hailed  him,  and  ordered  him  to  heave  to, 
which  order  was  immediately  obeyed.  I  sent  my  boat 
on  board,  and  found  him  to  be  an  English  ship,  burthen 
about  200  tons,  from  Palermo,  bound  to  London,  with 
a  cargo  of  brimstone,  rags,  mats,  etc.  He  moun^jd  six 
guns,  with  a  crew  of  about  twenty  men.  We  kept 
company  through  the  night.  The  latter  part  of  these 
twenty-four  hours,  light  winds  and  fine  weather.  Lat. 
by  obs.  42°  31'  N.,  long.  W  46'  W. 

Nov.  27th. — Light  breezes  from  the  N.W.,  and  fine, 
pleasant  weather.  Li  the  forenoon  of  this  day  removed 
the  prisoners  from  the  ship,  and  put  on  board  a  prize 
Tnaster  and  a  crew  of  ten  men  ;  I  also  took  out  her 
guns,  powder,  shot,  and  some  fruit,  and  then  ordered 
her  to  proceed  to  the  United  States.  At  2  p.  m.  made 
sail  and  steered  to  the  S.W.,  and  at  5  ditto  lost  sight 
of  the  prize.     Lat.  by  obs.  41°  3'  N.,  long.  15"  46'  W. 

At  half-past  6  a.  m.,  daylight,  saw  a  small  sail  bear- 
ing S.E.  ;  at  7  spoke  her  ;  she  was  a  small  schooner, 
one  day  from  Lisbon,  bound  to  Oporto.  At  this  time 
i](iade  the  Burling  Rocks,  bearing  S.S.E.  five  leagues 
distant ;  sevoi-al  small  sail  in  sight.     At  meridian,  tlie 


1814.J 


TllK    AMKUIl  AN    I'KIVATKKIIS. 


261 


Hock  of  Lisln)ii  boro  S.  by  E.,  seven  loagucs  distant. 
Fresli  breuzus  IVoni  the  N.E.  and  line  weather.  Lat. 
by  obs.  aO^  1' N. 

Dec.  1st. — Tliese  twenty-four  hours  eonmienced  with 
fresh  breezes  at  N.N.W.,  with  open,  eh)udy  weather. 

At  1  r.  M.  saw  a  sliip  on  our  weather  quarter,  coming 
u|)  with  us  very  fast.  I  made  sail,  Hteerin^j;  to  the  west- 
ward, to  i^ot  to  windward  of  the  ship,  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain her  character.  Ft  was  then  l»h)wiH^  a  strong 
breeze  from  the  N.N.W.,  and  the  weather  was  some- 
wliat  S((ually  ;  a  liead  sea  was  running.  About  half-past 
2  r.  M.  the  schooner  gave  a  sudden  pitch,  when,  to  the 
astonishment  of  every  person  on  board,  the  foremast 
broke,  about  one-third  below  its  head,  and  in  a  moment 
after,  it  broke  again,  close  to  the  deck.  While  in  this 
situation,  I  had  the  mortification  to  see  the  ship  pass  us, 
within  pistol-shot,  without  being  able  to  pursue  her. 
I  believe  she  was  an  English  packet,  just  out  of 
Lisbon,  and  bound  for  England  ;  and,  1  doubt  not, 
if  this  unfortunate  accident  had  not  occurred,  wo  should 
have  captured  her  in  less  than  one  hour  from  the  time 
she  was  first  seen.  At  this  time  the  packets  transport- 
ed large  quantities  of  specie  to  England,  and  this  ship 
would,  in  all  probability,  have  proved  a  ricli  prize  to  us. 
I  have  no  doubt  the  mast  was  defective,  and  that  it 
should  have  been  renewed  before  leaving  port.  From 
this  untoward  circumstance  resulted  all  the  misfortunes 
attending  the  cruise. 

I  cannot  express  the  disappointment  and  mortification 
I  now  felt,  not  so  much  on  my  own  account,  as  for  the 
loss  incurred  by  the  gentlemen  who  planned  and  fitted 
out  the  expedition.  The  Rock  of  Lisbon  bore  E.S.E. 
80  miles  distant,  and  my  only  hope  was  to  get  into  Lis- 
bon or  St.  Ubes  before  daylight  the  next  morning,  and 


262 


THE    AMERICAN    I'lUVATEKUS. 


(1814. 


tliViH  cscapo  capture.  I  uccordiiigly  cleared  away  tlu» 
wreck,  rigged  a  jury  forenmsl,  and  bore  away.  At  4 
P.  M.,  an  hour  after  the  accident  occurred,  we  were 
going  at  tlie  rate  ol'  ►seven  knota  an  hour,  and  had  tlic 
breeze  continued  througli  tlie  night,  .sliould  have  got 
into  port  bydayhglit  next  morning  ;  l)u(,  unlortunately, 
the  wind  became  liglit  during  the  niglil,  smd  we  made 
Uttle  progress.  At  5  a.  m.,  (hiyhght,  made  C'ape  Kspur- 
tel  and  tiie  Rock  of  Lisbon,  when  it  became  ii  i 
cahn.  We  then  eonnuenced  sweiiping  and  towing,  ilh 
two  boats  ahead,  imtil  1  r.  m.,  wlien  a  Hglit  air  sjjruiij^ 
up  IVom  the  westward,  and  1  liad  sti'ong  hopes  of  being 
able  to  get  in,  or  run  the  vessel  on  shore  and  destroy 
her,  and  thus  escape  capture. 

At  2  p.  M.,  being  about  lour  miles  I'rom  the  land,  I 
received  a  Lisbon  })ilob  on  board.  The  ebb-tide  now- 
commenced  running  out  of  theTugus,  and  1  had  the  mor- 
tification to  see  a  British  frigate  coming  out  with  the 
lirst  of  it,  with  a  light  bree/e  from  oil'  the  land.  At  2 
p.  M.  I  was  under  her  guns.  She  proved  Id  b  'jie 
Granicus,  a  38  gun  frigate,  Captain  W.  F.  Wisr  '^e 
were  all  removed  to  the  frigate,  and  the  schooner  taKen 
in  tow  for  Gibraltar. 

Two  days  after  our  capture,  viz.,  on  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber, we  arrived  at  Gibraltar.  Nearly  all  my  ofiiccr.s 
and  men  were  distributed  and  sent  to  England  in  difTer- 
ent  ships ;  the  first  and  second  lieutenants,  with  myself, 
were  retained  on  board  the  Granicus  to  undergo  an 
examination  at  the  Admiralty  Court. 

The  next  day  after  our  arrival,  the  frigate  left  port 
fer  Tetuan  Bay,  Morocco,  o})posite  Gibraltar,  to  obtain 
wafer,  and  to  be  pamted.  We  were  taken,  on  this  little 
voyage,  and  had  I  not  been  a  prisoner,  I  should  have 
enjoyed  very  much  the  novelty  of  the  excursion,  which 


[1814. 

• 

iwuy  tho 
h  At  'I 
we  Nviire 

hivd  llie 
liivvo  };«)1 
ilumUoly, 

wo  luivtlo 
po  Kspur- 

llO    11  I 

viujj;,  itli 
lir  hpriiii}^ 
s  of  boiwg 
id  destroy 

he  land,  I 
b-tide  now 
id  the  luor- 
li  with  the 
lul.  At  2 
id   h     'lie 

loner  taKen 

of  Dccem- 

[i\y  officers 

1  hi  differ- 

ith  myself, 

indergo  an 

lie  left  port 
to  ohtam 
1)11  this  little 
houkl  have 
sion,  wliicl' 


1914.J 


Tin:    AMKUICAN    TUIV ATKIIUS. 


263 


occupied  threo  or  four  dsiys  Cuptiiiu  AVise  was  a  line, 
genthunaniy  uuiii,  mid  always  treated  me  iiud  my 
ollicers  with  respect  and  kindness.  We  ine.ssed  in 
tlu^  ward-room.  I  had  a  state-room  to  myself,  junl  was 
us  comfortahle  and  happy  as  I  (!ould  he  under  the  eircum- 
,  8tan(u>s. 

I  used  to  dine  with  Capi.  Wise  almost  daily ;  he  fre- 
(pienlly  saitl  to  me,  "  Don't  feel  depressed  by  captivity, 
but  strive  to  forget  that  you  are  a  prisoner,  and  imagine 
lliat  you  are  only  a  passenger." 

In  the  (;ourse  of  conversation,  he  said  to  me  :  "  (^og- 
gesliall,  you  Americans  are  a  singular  peo])le  as  it  re- 
siMH'ts  seamanship  and  enterprise.  In  Knglaiid,  we  caii- 
iiol  build  sueli  vessels  as  your  Baltimore  cli[)pers  ;  we 
liiive  no  such  models,  and  even  if  we  had  them,  they 
would  be  of  no  service  to  us,  for  we  never  could  sail 
them  as  you  do.  We  have  now  and  then  taken  some 
of  your  schooners  with  our  fast  sailing  frigates.  They 
have  sometimes  caught  one  of  them  under  their  lee,  in 
a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  by  out-earrying  them.  Then, 
again,  we  have  taken  a  few  vith  our  boats  in  calm 
weather.  We  are  afraid  of  tlu  '  long  masts  lind  heavy 
spars,  and  soon  cut  down  and  reci  cc  them  to  our  stand- 
ard. We  strengthen  them,  put  up  bulkheads,  etc.,  after 
which  they  lose  their  sailing  qualities,  and  are  of  no  fur- 
ther service  as  cruising  vessels."  > 

lie  also  remarked  that  the  famous  privateer  True 
Blooded  Yankee,  which  had  done  them  so  much  mis- 
chief, once  belonged  to  their  navy  ;  that  they  captured 
her  from  the  French  ;  that  she  was  afterwards  re-taken, 
and  finally  got  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  ;  that  she 
then  outsailed  every  thing,  and  that  none  of  their  cruisers 
could  touch  her,  and  concluded  by  adding  that  we  were 
a  most  ingenious  people. 


264 


TUE    AMEUICAN    riUVATEEUS. 


[1814. 


I  observed  that  perhaps  ho  gave  us  too  much  credit 
for  our  skill  in  seamanship,  Ele  replied  that  he  did  not, 
but  only  stated  the  simple  truth. 

He  soon  afterward  related  a  very  amushig  anecdc+e 
about  one  of  our  little  schooners,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Garonne,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  He  said  the  Superb, 
seventy-four,  was  cruising  off  the  mouth  of  that  river, 
and  that  one  morning,  in  a  fog,  they  found  one  of  our 
little  schooners  ulidcr  her  guns.  They,  of  course,  con- 
cluded she  could  not  inakc  her  escape.  The  Captain 
had  his  wife  with  him,  who  had  the  curiosity  to  wa'^ch 
the  lit'^'^  schooner  from  the  quarter  deck,  and  on  her 
return  to  England,  related  to  her  friends  all  the  circum- 
stances of  her  escape,  which  were  as  follows  :  "  One  morn- 
ing we  were  quite  near  one  of  the  American  schooners, 
but  could  not  catch  her.''  When  asked  the  reason  why, 
she  replied  :  "  Because  we  could  not  turn  round  soon 
enough."  Capt.  Wise  then  observed,  that  the  lady  re- 
lated allth(  facts  in  the  case  in  the  few  words,  "  Because 
we  could  not  turn  round  sv)on  enough."  A  nautical 
man,  in  describing  it,  would  probably  have  said  :  "  The 
ship  got  into  the  wind  and  made  a  stern  board,  and  be- 
fore we  could  get  sufficient  steerage  way  upon  her  to 
tack  after  the  schooner,  the  little  craft  had  already  made 
three  or  four  tacks  right  in  the  wind's  eye,  and  was  soon 
out  of  reach  of  our  shot,  and  thus  made  her  escape,  to 
our  great  surprise  and  mortification." 

On  another  occasion,  the  conversation  turned  on  the 
action  between  the  Constitution  and  the  Guerriere,  when 
Capt.  Wise  observed,  that  Capt.  Dacres  was  a  cousin  of 
his,  and  a  personal  friend.  I  remarked  that  Capt.  Hull 
was  a  relative  of  mine,  and  first  cousin  to  my  father ; 
that  I  had  personall}'  known  him  for  many  years.  He 
added,  that  it  was  a  singular  coincidence  ;  and  after  dis- 


Hill; 


[1814. 


1814.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PllIVATEERS. 


265 


I  credit 
did  not, 

,necdo+o 
li  of  the 
Superb, 
it  river, 
3  of  our 
rse,  con- 
Captaiii 
to  wa^ch 
i  on  her 
)  circura- 
nc  morn- 
uhooners, 
ison  why, 
und  soon 
'  lady  re- 
' '  Because 
.  nautical 
d:  "The 
,  and  be- 
t)n  her  to 
ady  made 
\  was  soon 
escape,  to 

.ed  on  the 

iere,  when 
cousin  of 
!apt.  Hull 

ny  father ; 
ears.     He 

1  after  dis- 


cussing tlie  subject  good-naturedly  for  some  time,  a 
young  midshipman,  who  was  dining  with  us,  expressed 
a  wish  that  he  could  have  an  opportunity  of  being 
engaged  with  an  American  frigate,  under  like  circum- 
slances,  when  Capt.  Wise  reprovingly  replied  :  "  Do  n't 
boast,  youngster,  perhaps  if  you  should,  you  might  get 
liandsomely  whippvd."  In  this  way  we  often  discussed 
llie  relative  merits  of  our  respective  countries,  with 
kindness  and  socidl  courtesy.  Capt.  Wise  occasionally 
invited  Mr.  Depeyster,  my  first  lieutenant,  to  dine  with 
him,  and  in  the  characteristic  goodness  of  his  heart,  said 
lie  would  endeavor  to  get  us  paroled,  and  thus  prevent 
our  being  sent  to  England.  We  stated  to  him,  that  we 
had  volimtarily  released  more  than  thirty  British  prison- 
ers, notwithstanding  the  American  government  gave  a 
bounty  (to  letters-of-marque  and  privateers)  of  ten  dol- 
lars per  head  for  British  prisoners  brought  into  the 
United  States.  These  facts  Capt.  Wise  represented  to 
the  governor,  and  also  added,  that  the  five  English 
prisoners,  found  on  board  the  Leo,  said  they  had  been 
very  kindly  treated,  and  he  hoped  his  Excellency  would 
release  mo  and  my  two  lieutenants  upon  our  parole,  and 
let  us  return  direct  to  the  United  States.  The  governor 
refused  to  comply  with  the  kind  request  of  Capt.  Wise, 
and  said  he  had  p)Ositive  orders  from  the  British  govern- 
ment to  send  every  American  prisoner,  brought  into  that 
port,  to  England.  When  Capt.  Wise  informed  us  that 
he  was  unable  to  obtain  our  liberty  on  parole,  he  gave 
me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  friend  in  England,  re- 
questing him  to  use  his  best  interest  to  get  myself  and 
my  first  and  second  lieutenants  released  on  parole,  and 
thus  enable  us  to  return  forthwith  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Daly,  an  Irish  gentleman,  second  lieutenant  of  the 
Granicus,  who  was  connected  with  several  persons  of 


26G 


Tin;    AMHiaCAN    rmVATEERS. 


[1814. 


distinction  in  England,  also  gave  me  a  letter  to  a  noble 
lady  of  groat  influence  at  court.  I  regret  I  do  not  re- 
collect her  name,  but  I  well  remember  the  emphatic 
expression  of  the  kind-hearted  and  generous  Daly  when 
he  handed  me  the  letter  to  lus  noble  friend.  "Cause 
this  letter  to  be  presented,"  said  he,  "  and  rely  upon  it, 
this  lady  will  never  allow  you  or  your  two  friends  to  be 
sent  to  prison  in  England.''  Mr.  Depeyster  was  a  high- 
spirited  man,  and  when  he  learned  that  we  could  not 
obtain  our  liberty  on  parole,  he  became  extremely  vexed 
and  excited,  and  told  the  ward-room  officers  that  if  it 
should  ever  please  God  to  place  him  in  a  letter-of- 
marque  or  privateer,  during  the  war,  he  would  never 
again  release  an  English  prisoner,  but  would  have  a 
place  built  in  the  vessel  to  confine  them  until  he  should 
arrive  in  the  United  States  ;  that  the  bounty  given  by 
the  United  States  government  rendered  it  an  object  to 
carry  them  into  port,  but  from  moti^-es  of  humanity  he 
had  released  many  of  their  countrymen  ;  and  now  they 
refused  to  parole  three  unfortunate  men  who  were  hi 
their  jiower.  I  said  but  little  on  the  subject,  but  from 
that  moment  resolved  to  make  my  escape  upon  the  first 
opportunity. 

The  next  day  after  this  conversation  (December  8th), 
Capt.  Wise  said,  "Capt.  Coggeshall,  it  is  necessary  that 
you  and  yoiu'  officers  should  go  on  shore  to  the  Ad- 
miralty Office,  there  to  be  examined  with  .  espect  to  the 
condemnation  of  your  schooner,  your  late  cruise,  &c., 
and  if  you  will  pledge  me  your  word  and  honor  that 
you  and  your  officers  will  not  attempt  to  make  your  es- 
cape, I  will  permit  you  and  the  other  two  gentlemen  to 
go  on  shore  without  a  guard."  I  told  him  at  once  that 
I  would  give  the  j)ledge  not  to  attempt  in  any  way  to 
make  my  escape,  and  would  also  be  answerable  for  Mr. 


1814.] 


THK    AMERICAN    PIUVATEEUS. 


267 


Depoystcr  and  Mr.  Allen.  This  ready  compliance  on 
my  i)art  resulted  from  a  desire  to  gain  an  opi)ortu- 
nity  to  reconnoitre  the  garri.son,  or  in  seaman's  phrase, 
"to  see  how  the  land  lay/'  in  order  to  profit  by  the 
first  chance  to  make  my  escape  when  not  on  parole. 

We  accordingly  went  on  shore  without  a  guard,  and 
were  conducted  to  the  Admiralty  Office.  I  was  first  ex- 
amined, and  was  asked  a  great  many  questions,  the 
greater  part  of  which  were  from  a  printed  coi)y  ;  the 
answers  were  written  down  opposite  the  questions.  It 
seemed  to  mo  to  be  more  a  matter  of  form,  than  for  any 
special  purpose.  By-the-by,  many  of  the  inquiries  ap- 
peared to  me  very  unmeaning  and  unimportant.  \Vhen 
they  had  linished  with  me,  they  commenced  with  Mr. 
Depeyster  ;  and  after  asking  him  a  few  (piestions,  the 
court  of  inquiry  was  adjourned  until  the  next  morning 
at  10  o'clock  ;  and  notifying  us  to  be  there  precisely  at 
the  time  appointed,  we  were  dismissed.  We  then  took 
a  stroll  about  the  town  for  an  hour  or  two,  returned  o)i 
board,  and  reported  ourselves  to  Capt.  Wise. 

Thus  far,  not  a  shadow  of  suspicion  had  been  visible 
on  the  countenances  of  Captain  Wise,  or  his  officers,  that 
either  of  us  would  attempt  to  make  our  escape.  In  the 
evening,  I  consulted  with  Messrs.  DepeystCx'  and  Allen 
on  the  subject  of  giving  them  the  dodge  upon  the  very 
first  opportunity.  I  told  them  if  i'lic  captain  required 
my  parole  the  next  morning  I  would  not  give  it,  neither 
would  I  advise  them  to  pledge  their  word  and  honor  that 
they  would  not  make  their  escape.  I  told  them,  fur- 
thermore, that  I  was  resolved  to  slip  away  the  first  mo- 
ment I  saw  a  favorable  opportunity,  and  would  advise 
them  to  do  the  same,  and  not,  from  motives  of  delicacy, 
wait  a  moment  for  me. 

The  next  morning,  when  dressing,  I  put  all  the  money 


268 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


I  had,  say  about  one  hundred  gold  twenty-franc  pieces, 
in  a  belt  that  was  around  my  person,  and  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  Spanish  dollars  in  my  pocket,  with  some  little 
relics  and  trifling  keepsakes.     Thus  prepared,  I  went  to 
breakfast  in  the  ward-room.     About  9  o'clock,  Captain 
Wise  sent  for  me,  when  the  following  dialogue  ensued : 
"  Well,  Coggeshall,  I  understand  you  and  your  offlcers 
are  required  at  the  Admiralty  Office  at  10  o'clock,  and  if 
you  will  again  pledge  your  honor,  as  you  did  yesterday, 
that  you    will  neither    of  you  attempt  to  make  your 
escape,  you  may  go  on  shore  without  a  guard,  otlierwise 
^  shall  be  obliged  to  send  one   with  you."     I  watched 
.is  countenance  closely,  for  a  moment,  to  ascertain  his 
real  meaning,  and  whether  he  was  determined  to  adhere 
strictly  to  the  words  lie  had  just  uttered,  and  then  replied, 
"  Captain  Wise,  T  am  surprised  that  you  should  think 
it  possible  for  any  one   to  make  his  escape  from  Gib- 
raltar."    He  instantly  saw  I  was  sounding  him,  when  he 
pleasantly  but  firmly   said,    "Come,  come,  it  wont  do, 
you  must  either  pledge  your  word  and  honor  that  neither 
you  nor  your  officers  will  attempt  to  make  your  escape, 
or  I  shall  be  compelled  to  send  a  guard  with  you."    I 
felt  a  little  touched,  and  promptly  replied,  "you  had 
better  send  a  guard,  sir."     Accordingly,  he  ordered  the 
third  lieutenant  to  take  a  sergeant   and  four  marines 
with  him  and  conduct  us  to  the  Admiralty  Office. 

At  the  hour  appointed  they  recommenced  the  examin- 
ation where  they  had  left  off  the  day  before  with  Mr. 
Depeyster.  I  was  sitting  in  the  court-room,  and  Mr. 
Allen  standing  at  the  door,  when  he  beckoned  to  me.  I 
instantly  went  to  the  door,  and  found  the  lieutenant  had 
left  his  post,  and  was  not  in  sight.  I  then  asked  the  ser- 
geant whether  he  would  go  with  us  a  short  distance  up 
the  street  to  take  a  glass  of  wine.     He  readily  complied 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


2G9 


with  my  request,  leaving  the  marines  at  tlic  door  to 
watch  Mr.  Depcyster,  and  walked  respectfully  at  a  few 
paces  behind  us,  up  the  street.  (I  had  been  once  before 
at  Gibraltar,  and  understood  the  town  perfectly  well). 
We  soon  came  to  a  wine  shop  on  a  corner,  with  a  door 
opening  on  each  street.  While  the  soldier  was  standing 
at  the  door,  Mr.  A.  and  myself  entered  and  called  for  a 
glass  of  wine.  I  drank  a  glass  in  haste,  but  unfortu- 
nately had  no  small  change,  and  this  circumstance  alone, 
prevented  my  worthy  friend  from  going' with  me.  I 
hastily  told  him  I  would  cross  the  little  square  in  front, 
turn  the  first  corner  and  there  wait  for  him  to  join  me. 
I  then  slipped  out  of  the  shop,  passed  quickly  over  the 
little  park,  and  turned  the  corner  agreed  upon,  without 
being  seen  by  the  sergeant,  while  he  was  watching  at 
the  opposite  door.  I  waited  some  minutes  on  the  cor- 
ner for  Mr.  Allen,  and  was  sadly  disappointed  that  he 
did  not  make  his  appearance.  I  had  now  fairly  com- 
mitted myself,  and  found  I  had  not  a  moment  to  spare. 
I  therefore  walked  with  a  quick  step  towards  the  Land 
Port  Gate,  not  that  leading  to  the  Peninsula,  but 
the  gate  situated  at  the  north-west  extremity  of  the 
town. 

My  dress  was  a  blue  coat,  black  stock,  and  black 
cockade,  with  an  eagle  in  the  centre.  The  eagle  I  took 
care  to  remove,  and  then  it  was  tout-a-fait  an  English 
cockade,  and  I  had,  on  the  whole,  very  much  the  appear- 
ance of  an  English  naval  officer.  I  said  to  myself  when 
approaching  the  guard  at  the  gate,  "  Now  is  the  critical 
moment,  and  the  most  perfect  composure  and  consum- 
mate impudence  are  necessary  to  a  successful  result."  I 
gave  a  stern  look  at  the  sentinel,  when  he  returned  me 
a  respectful  salute,  and  I  was  in  another  moment  with- 
out the  walls  of  Gibraltar. 


270 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


I  walked  (loliberately  down  the  mole,  or  quay,  where 
I  was  accosted  by  a  great  number  of  watermen  offering 
to  convey  me  on  board  my  vessel.  I  employed  one,  and 
after  getting  off  in  the  bay,  he  said,  "  Captain,  which  is 
your  vessel  ?"  Hero  again  I  was  at  a  loss  to  decide  on 
an  answer,  but  after  gazing  for  a  few  moments  on  the 
different  ships  and  the  flags  of  different  nations,  my  eye 
caught  sight  of  a  galiot  with  a  Norwegian  ensign  fly- 
ing, and  I  said  to  myself,  "  The  Norwegians  are  a  virtu- 
ou  ,  honest  people,  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  trust  them." 
I  had  been  in  their  country,  and  understood  the  charac- 
ter of  these  hardy,  honest-hearted  sons  of  the  North. 
After  a  moment's  hesitation,  I  replied  to  the  boatman, 
"  That  is  my  vessel,"  pointing  to  the  friendly  galiot,  and 
we  were  soon  alongside.  I  jumped  on  board,  and  in- 
quired for  the  captain,  who  soon  made  his  appearance. 
I  told  him  I  had  something  to  communicate  to  him.  He 
told  me  to  follow  him  into  the  cabin.  I  immediately 
asked  him  whether  he  was  willing  to  befriend  a  man  in 
distress.  He  said,  "  Tell  me  your  story,  and  I  will  try 
to  serve  you."  I  frankly  told  him  I  was  captain  of  the 
American  letter-of-marque  schooner  lately  sent  into  port 
by  the  frigate  Granicus,  and  that  I  hod  made  my  escape 
from  the  garrison,  and  desired  to  get  over  to  Algeciras 
as  soon  as  possible  ;  that  I  had  money  enough,  but  still 
I  wanted  his  friendship,  confidence,  and  protection.  The 
good  old  gentleman  had  scarcely  waited  to  hear  my  story 
to  the  end,  before  he  grasped  me  by  the  hand  and  said, 
in  a  kind  and  feeling  manner,  "  I  will  be  your  friend,  I 
will  protect  you  ;  I  was  once  a  prisoner  in  England,  and 
I  know  what  it  is  to  be  a  prisoner ;  rest  a,ssured,  my 
dear  sir,  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  assist  you.  I  offered  him 
a  dollar  to  pay  and  discharge  the  boatman,  and  remained 
myself  below   in  the  cabin.     He  said,   "  Put  up  your 


[1814. 

T,  where 
oficring 
one,  and 
which  is 
Iccidc  on 
ts  on  the 
3,  my  eye 
nsign  Ily- 
0  a  virtu- 
st  them." 
ic  charac- 
he  North, 
boatman, 
^aUot,  and 
d,  and  in- 
Dpcarancc. 
0  him.  He 
miediately 
a  man  in 
I  will  try 
ain  of  the 
It  into  port 
my  escape 
Algeciras 
,  but  still 
tion.  The 
X  my  story 
and  said, 
ir  friend,  I 
gland,  and 
isurcd,  my 
ffered  him 
remained 
,t  up  your 


1814.] 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


271 


money,  I  liave  small  change,  and  I  will  pay  him  what  is 
just  and  right."  After  dispatching  the  boatman,  he  re- 
turned below  and  said,  "  Now  take  ofT  your  coat,  and 
put  on  this  large  pea-jacket  and  fur  cap."  In  tliis  cos- 
tume, and  with  a  Urge  pipe  in  my  mouth,  I  was,  in 
less  than  two  minutes,  tvimsfoi'ined  into  a  regular  Nor- 
wegian. Ileturning  again  on  deck,  I  asked  my  good 
friend  the  captain  wliether  I  could  rely  on  his  mate  and 
sailors  not  to  betray  me  ;  he  said,  "  They  are  honest, 
and  perfectly  trustworthy,  and  you  need  be  under  no 
apprehension  on  their  account."  We  took  a  social  din- 
ner together,  when  he  observed  ;  "  I  will  now  go  on  shore 
for  an  hour  or  two,  and  hear  all  i  can  about  your  escape, 
and  will  come  back  early  in  tlie  evening  and  relate  to 
you  all  I  learn."  In  tlie  evening  the  old  captain  re- 
turned, pleased  and  dehghted.  Tie  said  he  never  saw 
such  a  hubbub  as  there  was  about  town  ;  tliat  the  whole 
garrison  seemed  to  be  on  tlie  look-out,  that  the  Town 
Major,  with  the  militaiy  and  civil  police,  were  searching 
every  hole  and  corner  in  Gibraltar  for  the  captain  of 
the  American  privateer  ;  that  both  of  my  officers  were 
put  in  confinement,  and  that  the  lieutenant  of  the  ffigate 
who  had  the  charge  of  us  had  been  arrested  ;  in  short, 
there  was  "the  devil  to  pay,"  because  the  caj)tain  of  the 
privateer  could  not  be  found. 

The  next  morning  I  stated  to  my  worthy  friend  how 
extremely  anxious  I  was  to  go  over  to  Algeciras,  and 
how  mortified  I  should  be  to  be  taken  again  on  board 
the  Granicus.  He  answered,  "  Leave  that  to  me  :  I  am 
well  acquainted  with  a  gang  of  smugglers  who  belong  to 
Algeciras,  and  often  sell  them  gin,  tobacco,  and  other 
articles  of  trade  ;  they  will  be  here  on  board  m}'-  galiot 
at  9  o'clock  this  evening,  and  will  probably  start  for 
Algeciras  about  midnight,  after  tliey  have  made  all  their 


272 


THE   AMERICAN    I'UIVATKKHS. 


[1814. 


purchases.  When  they  come  I  will  arrange  witli  them  to 
take  you  as  a  passenger." 

About  9  o'clock  tliat  evennig,  a  long,  fast-rowing 
boat  came  silently  along-side  filled  with  lucn  y  and  cer- 
tainly a  more  desperate,  vilhiinous-looking  set  was  never 
seen.  Their  leader  and  several  of  his  men  came  on  board 
the  galiot,  and  after  having  purchased  several  articles 
and  taken  a  glass  of  gin  all  around,  the  old  captain  in- 
quired of  the  patroon  of  the  boat  what  hour  he  intended 
to  start  for  Algcciras,  and  said,  that  the  reason  of  his 
asking  the  question  was  that  ]iis  brother  wanted  to  goto 
that  place  for  a  few  days  upon  business,  and  he  wished 
to  engage  a  i)assage  for  him,  and  that  he  should  be  glnil 
if  his  brother  could  lodge  for  a  few  days  with  his  family. 
He  answered  that  he  should  return  again  about  mid- 
night, and  would  willingly  take  the  capttiin's  brother,  and 
that  if  he  could  put  up  with  rough  fare,  he  was  welcome 
to  stay  at  his  house  as  long  as  he  pleased.  I  accord- 
ingly got  ready  my  little  bundle,  which  consisted  of  a  few 
small  articles,  such  as  a  shirt  or  two  (for  I  did  not  forget 
to  wear  three  at  the  time  I  left  the  Granicus),  and  stow- 
ed it  away  in  my  hat.  I  agreed  with  my  friend,  the  Nor- 
wegian, to  leave  the  cap  and  pea  jacket  with  the  Ameri- 
can Consul  at  Algcciras,  to  be  returned  to  him  by  sonic 
safe  conveyance  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  Agreeable 
to  promise  the  boat  came  on  board  precisely  at  12 
o'clock,  and  after  my  friend,  the  captain,  had  again  cau- 
tioned the  patroon  of  the  boat,  to  lake  good  care  of  his 
brother,  we  started. 

The  water  in  the  bay  was  smooth,  though  the  night 
was  dark  and  favorable  to  the  safe  prosecution  of  the 
passage.  The  distance  is  about  eight  or  ten  miles  from 
Gibraltar  ;  and  after  rowing  two  hours,  we  arrived  nef.r 
the  harbor,   when  we  showed  a  light  in  a  lantern  for  a 


[1814. 
them  to 

^-rowing 
and  cer- 
as  never 
on  board 
I  articles 
ptain   in- 
intended 
on  of  his 
d  to  goto 
iic  wished 
Id  be  glad 
lis  family, 
bout  mid- 
other,  and 
IS  welcome 
I  accord- 
ed of  a  few 
not  forget 


18U.] 


THE    AMRRICAN    PUIVATEEUS. 


273 


minute  or  two, and  then  covered  it  with  a  jacket.  Tliis  sig- 
nal was  repeated  two  or  three  times,  until  it  was  an- 
swered in  the  same  way  from  the  sliore.  We  ai)prua<;liod 
the  port  cautiously,  and  landed  in  silence.  Tliepatroon 
took  mo  by  the  arm,  and  lead  me  through  many  a  dark 
winding  })assage.  On  our  way  we  passed  l)y  several  sen- 
tinels, and  were  frequently  hailed  with  the  shrill  sound 
of  "  Quien  Viva?''  To  these  salutations  some  friendly 
answer  was  returned,  and  thus  everything  passed  smooth- 
ly on,  until  at  length  we  arrived  at  the  humble  dwelliu'^ 
of  the  smuggler. 

In  Spain,  the  contrabandists  are  a  desperate  class  of 
men,  and  often  spread  dread  and  fear  through  a  wide 
region  of  country.  In  many  instances  they  arc  so  nu- 
merous and  strong  that  they  often  put  the  whole  power 
of  the  government  at  defiance.  The  gang  that  brought 
me  to  Algeciras  were  about  twenty  in  number,  all 
armed  to  the  teeth  with  long  knives,  pistols,  swords, 
&c.,  and  had  no  doubt  made  their  arrangements  during 
the  day  with  the  officers  and  sentinels  who  were  to  mount 
guard  that  night.  Of  course  they  made  them  a  com- 
pensation in  some  way  or  other,  in  order  that  they  should 
meet  with  nothing  to  interfere  with,  or  obstruct  their 
nocturnal  enterprises. 

Early  in  life  I  had  made  several  voyages  to  Spain  and 
its  colonies  in  America,  and  had  acquired  a  pretty  good 
knowledge  of  the  Spanish  character.  I  had  also  picked 
up  enough  of  the  language  to  enable  me  to  make  my 
way  among  them  without  difficulty. 

There  is  something  about  the  Spaniard  that  immedi- 
ately inspires  confidence  ;  so  much  so,  that  although  sur- 
rounded by  this  desperate  gang  of  smugglers,  I  had  not 
the  smallest  fear  for  my  safety.     It  was  now  near  three 

18 


274 


THE   AMERICAN    rUlVATEEUS. 


[1814. 


o'clock  ill  the  morning,  wlion  wc  entered  the  small,  low 
cabin  of  the  pjitroon.  The  interior  consisted  of  one 
room  of  moderate  size,  with  a  mat  hung  up,  to  serve  as 
a  partition,  to  separate  the  ditTerent  members  of  the  fam- 
ily, which  consisted  of  the  patroon,  Antonio,  his  wife, 
and  two  children.  The  eldest,  a  girl,  was  about  eight  or 
nine  years  of  age,  and  the  boy,  a  fine  little  fellow,  about 
six.  Antonio  was  thirty-five  or  forty  years  old,  and  his 
wife,  a  good-looking  woman,  twenty-eight  or  thirty. 

With  this  family  I  was  soon  placed  upon  the  moat 
friendly  and  intimate  footing.  A  straw  bed  Was  prepared 
for  me  behind  the  mat  screen.  Before  saying  good-night 
Antonio  told  me  he  should  leave  the  house  very  early  in 
the  morning  to  look  after  his  boat  and  smuggled  goods, 
and  should  not  return  until  noon  next  day.  He  said  his 
wife  and  little  daughter  would  provide  breakftist  for  me, 
and  would  purchase  whatever  I  wished  at  any  timo  After 
these  preliminaries  were  settled  we  all  said,  "Buenasno- 
ches,"  and  dropped  asleep. 

About  7  o'clock  the  next  mornhig  I  furnished  the 
smuggler's  wife  with  money  to  purchase  bread,  butter, 
eggs  and  coffee  ;  and  when  breakfast  was  prepared,  the 
mother,  the  two  children,  and  myself,  ate  our  social  meal 
together.  I  then  took  a  stroll  about  the  town  of  Alge- 
ciras  in  my  Norwegian  costume,  and  silently  observed 
what  was  going  on,  without  conversing  with  any  person  ; 
when  I  entered  a  coffee  house  I  generally  took  a  news- 
paper, and,  as  I  said  nothing,  no  one  appeared  to  notice 
me.  I  had  broken  the  quarantine  laws,  and  therefore 
deemed  it  prudent  to  keep  on  my  disguise  for  a  few  days, 
and  continue  to  live  in  perfect  seclusion.  The  next 
night,  Antonio  was  to  leave  this  place  for  Gibraltar,  and 
by  him  I  sent  the  following  letter  to  my  friend  the  good 
Norwegian. 


[1814. 


1814.) 


TnE   AMERICAN   PniVATEERS. 


275 


mil,  low 
of  one 
serve  aa 
the  fani- 
liia  wiCc, 
L  eight  or 
)W,  ubout 
I,  and  Ills 
liirty. 
the  luoHt 
prepared 
ood-night 
•y  early  in 
led  goods, 
le  said  his 
vst  for  mc, 
mo    After 
jiuenas  no- 

iiished  the 
ad,  butter, 
)ared,  the 
social  meal 
n  of  Alge- 
y  observed 
ny  person ; 
c  a  news- 
d  to  notice 
therefore 
a  few  days, 
The  next 
)raltar,  and 
d  the  good 


Algeciras,  Dec.  1.3M,  1814. 
Captain  )/  the  Galiot : 

My  dear,  Oooi)  Friend  :  [  am  happy  to  inform  you 
that  I  landed  hero  last  night,  or  rather  at  2  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  have  taken  up  my  abode  in  the  family  of 
our  friend,  the  patroon  Antonio,  and  now  consider  my- 
self in  perfect  safety — all  which  1  owe  to  your  kind  and 
generous  conduct.  While  I  live  my  heart  will  ever  beat 
with  gratitude  to  you,  my  excellent  friend,  and  if  it  should 
never  be  in  my  power  to  reward  your  disinterested  kind- 
ness, I  sincerely  pray  that  (]lod  will  reward  and  bless  you 
and  yours  to  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  Although 
I  live  in  an  obscure  cabin,  and  am  here  a  stranger  in  a 
strange  land,  still  I  am  happier  than  I  could  possibly  be 
in  a  palace,  deprived  of  my  liberty. 

I  shall  remain  here  a  few  days  in  disguise,  and  shall  be 
happy  to  receive  a  letter  from  you  jier  Antonio.  I  am 
extremely  anxious  to  hoar  what  has  become  of  my  offi- 
cers, and  whether  they  have  been  sent  prisoners  to  Eng- 
land. You  said  it  was  possible  you  might  come  over  to 
Algeciras.  I  hope  you  will  conclude  to  do  so,  and  then 
I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  your  society,  while 
you  remain  in  this  place. 

Adieu,  my  dear  Sir,  and  believe  me  always  with  esteem, 
Your  grateful  friend, 

GEORGE  COGGESHALL. 

Antonio  was  absent  almost  all  the  time  during  the 
three  days  I  remained  in  his  family.  I  furnished  money, 
and  the  good  Maria  purchased  and  prepared  our  frugal 
meals.  When  I  returned  from  a  stroll  about  the  town, 
I  always  took  care  to  provide  cakes  and  bonbons  for  the 


270 


THE    AMKUICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


[18H. 


children  ;  so  wo  soon  bcciune  very  ^ood  friendH,  and  all 
lived  very  happily  logethor,  and  n})on  turnia  of  tho  most 
perfect  ecjuality. 

After  remaining  here  for  a  period  of  three  days,  I  be- 
gan to  tiro  of  this  mode  of  life,  and  was  determined  to 
ascertain  how  I  could  get  to  Cadiz,  where  I  knew  I  should 
find  friends,  and  be  further  removed  from  tho  morlifyiii;; 
Bcones  through  which  1  had  so  lately  passed.  Accordingly, 
on  the  morning  of  tho  fourth  day  of  my  landing  at  Al- 
geciras,  I  repaired  to  a  cafe,  and  inquired  of  one  of  the 
servants  whether  there  was  an  American  Consul  residing 
hi  the  city.  The  boy  seemed  intelligent,  and  inslantly 
replied,  that  Don  Horatio  Spraguo,  tho  former  Consul  at 
Gibraltar,  was  residing  here,  and  that  he  was,  "  un  honi- 
bre  do  bicn."  I  asked  for  his  address,  when  he  called  a 
boy  to  show  mo  the  house  ;  so  that  in  lifleon  minutes 
after,  T  was  knocking  at  Mr.  F'praguo's  door,  and  was 
soon  admitted  into  his  hospitable  numsion. 

He  was,  of  course,  sur])rised  to  stio  a  nuui  of  my  ap- 
pearance walk  boldly  into  his  parlor.  I  soon,  howevjr, 
explained  that  I  was  not  exactly  what  I  appeared  to  be  ; 
that  I  was  an  American  in  distress,  and  throwing  ofl"  my 
great  fur  cap  and  pea-jacket,  looked  somewhat  more  like 
an  American.  I  told  my  story,  and  was  received  and 
treated  like  a  brother.  He  was  just  going  to  take  break- 
fast and  said,  **  You  will  breakfast  with  us,  and  then  I 
will  send  my  nephew,  Mr.  Leach,  with  you  for  your  bun- 
dle, and  you  will  then  return  and  take  up  your  abode 
with  me  during  your  stay  at  Algeciras." 

After  a  social  breakfast,  having  doffed  my  ^  1 

pea-jacket,  and  being  supplied  with  a  ^ 
articles  of  dress  to  correspond,  Mr.  Lea' 
panied  me  to  the  humble  dwelling-         aria.        »  lu) 
great  surprise,  on  entering  the  cabin,  the  poor  woniaii 


[1814. 


IS14.] 


TUB    AMFRlrAN    PrUVATKKIia. 


277 


and  all 
lio  most 

H,  I  bc- 
lined  to 
I  Hhoiild 
)rtilyinK 
irdiii^ly, 
g  at  Al- 
io of  tlie 
rcHiding 
iiiHtantly 
lonsul  at 
'  un  hom- 
3  called  a 
mimite.s 
and  was 


if  my  ap- 
lowevjr, 
od  to  bo  ; 
goiV  n>y 
more  like 
eived  and 
vo  break- 
d  Ibcn  I 
your  bun- 
our  aboile 


V  ay 


1 


[I 


or  vvoinau 


was  very  dJHtant,  i'urhvsicd  witli  jirofonnd  rcsport,  atulnp- 
pcared  altogether  like  anotlier  jterson,  while  tlie  children 
were  nliy,  and  appeared  to  avoid  mo.  At  first  1  fcltimrt 
at  the  alteration,  but  a  moment's  reflection  convinced 
me  that  it  was  quite  natural,  and  I  loved  them  not  the 
less  for  their  distant  behaviour  :  while  in  my  disgulHO, 
thoy  looked  upon  mo  as  one  of  the  family  ;  but  now  the 
circumstances  were  change<l,  they  regarded  mo  in  quite 
another  light ;  and  I  felt  for  a  moment  that  the  arti- 
licial  rules  of  society  wore  chilling  to  a  generous  heart. 
Maria  told  Mr.  Leach  that  she  always  thought  I  was 
a  gontlonnin,  and  that  she  was  quite  happy  to  serve 
me. 

A  fter  making  the  family  suitable  presents,  T  took  my 
leave,  promising  that  they  should  frequently  see  me 
while  I  remained  in  Algcciras,  which  promise  I  took  care 
rigidly  to  fulfil. 

I  was  now  quite  at  home  with  one  of  the  best  of  men, 
whoso  greatest  pleasure  has  over  been  to  make  others 
happy.  His  excellent  nephew,  William  Leach,  Esq.,  was 
also  a  fine  young  gentleman,  and  as  wo  w^ro  all  Ameri- 
cans together,  the  most  perfect  confidence  reigned 
throughout  this  delightful  family.  During  my  stay  here, 
I  was  amused  with  a  little  incident  that  occurred  while 
at  dinner  at  Mr.  Sprague's  table.  A  young  Engli.sh 
friend  came  over  on  Sunday  to  dine  with  Mr.  S.  During 
dinner,  Mr.  Spraguo  asked  the  young  man  what  was 
said  in  Gibraltar  about  the  captain  of  the  American  let- 
er-of-marque  having  made  his  escape  from  the  garrison. 
He  ^aid  that  it  caused  a  great  deal  of  excitement  and 
•»I>^culation  ;  some  said  the  lieutenant  who  had  charge 
of  him  was  very  culpable,  and  even  insinuated  that  there 
iiiUst  have  been  bribery  connected  with  the  business  ; 
that  it  was  altogether  a  very  strange  affair,  that  a  man 


278 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


11814. 


should  be  able,  in  open  daylight,  to  make  his  escape  from 
Gibraltar.  After  answering  many  oihcr  questions  on 
the  subject,  he  wound  up  by  saying  that  the  captain 
must  be  a  clever  man,  and  for  his  part  he  wished  him 
God-speed. 

The  young  man  had  no  suspicion  that  I  wasa^i  Ameri- 
can, or  had  any  connection  with  the  business.  During 
the  conversation,  whenever  I  caught  the  eye  of  Mr. 
Leach,  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  I  could  com- 
mand my  countenance.  Every  thing,  however,  passed 
off  very  well,  and  we  often  joked  on  the  subject  of  the 
honest  simplicity  of  their  young  English  friend. 

I  remained  from  day  to  day  at  Algcciras,  anxiously 
waiting  to  hear  from  my  two  lieutenants,  Messrs.  Dc- 
peyster  and  Allen  ;  in  hopes  that  they  would  by  some 
means  be  able  to  make  their  escape,  and  not  be  sent  prison- 
ers to  England.  During  the  day-time  I  used  frequently  to 
ride  in  the  country  with  Mr.  Sprague.  In  the  evening 
we  often  made  up  an  agreeable  whist  party,  and,  among 
other  social  enjoyments,  my  young  friend  Ecach  in- 
troduced me  to  two  or  three  respectable  and  very  agree- 
able Spanish  families.  In  these  families  I  spent  many 
pleasant  evenings,  and  had  my  officers  and  crew  been 
at  liberty,  I  should  have  been  quite  contented  and  happy. 

At  length,  after  waiting  at  Algcciras  about  ten  days, 
I  learned  witli  pain  and  sincere  regret  that  all  my  offi- 
cers and  men  had  been  sent  as  prisoners  to  England, 
and  I  now  began  seriously  to  think  of  leaving  this  place 
for  Cadi^,. 

There  are  only  two  ways  of  travelling  with  safety 
in  Spain :  one  is  genteel  and  expensive,  viz.,  with 
a  strong  guard  of  soldiers  ;  the  other  is  in  simple  dis- 
guise, so  that  no  robber  can  foel  any  interest  in  mo- 
lesting you  on  the  road.  This  mode  I  determined  to  adopt. 


[1814. 


1815.] 


THE   AMERICAN    rillVATEERS. 


279 


Lipe  from 

lions  on 

captain 

jlicd  him 

Ti  Ameri- 
Duriug 
c  of  Mr. 
iild  com- 
)!',  passed 
ect  of  the 

1. 

anxiously 
;essrs.  Dc- 
1  by  some 
cnt  prison- 
;quently  to 
ic  evening 
,nd,  among 
I. each  in- 
cry  agree- 
ment many 
crew  been 
uid  happy, 
ten  days, 
ill  my  offi- 
En  gland, 
this  place 

vith  safety 
vi'z.,  with 
simple  dis- 
cst  in  mo- 
id to  adopt. 


Algcciras  lies  in  hit.  3G"  7'  North,  long.  5^  21'  West, 
on  the  west  side  of  Gibraltar  Bay,  and  distant  froia  that 
place  by  water  about  eight  miles  ;  while  to  go  round 
the  bay  by  land  is  about  double  the  distance,  say  seven- 
teen or  eighteen  miles.  It  contains  a  population  of  about 
4,500  to  5,000  souls,  has  a  good  harbor  and  considerable 
trafBc.  It  is  a  very  old  city,  and  in  ancient  times  was 
strongly  fortitied. 

Mr.  Spraguc*  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  has 
long  been  the  American  Consul  at  Gibraltar.  IIo  is 
extensively  known  and  universally  beloved  and  re- 
spected. Kis  house  has  been  for  many  years  the  seat 
of  a  generous  hospitality.  Although  he  has  resided  so 
long  abroad,  he  has  not  lost  a  particle  of  American  feel- 
ing, or  the  ardor  of  a  true  patriot.  His  nephew,  Mr. 
William  Leach,  is  also  a  worthy,  gentlemanly  ma:i,  of  su- 
perior abilities,  and  will  ever  be  remembered  by  me  with 
deep  gratitude. 

After  remaining  in  Algeciras  about  a  fortnight,  I 
hired  a  mule  and  a  guide  to  proceed  with  me  to  Cadiz. 
My  kind  friends  furnislied  me  with  provisions  and 
stores  for  a  journey  of  two  days.  I  procured  a  dress 
such  as  the  peasants  wear  in  this  part  of  Andalusia, 
and  thus  prepared,  on  the  morning  of  the  2Cth  of  De- 
cember, 1814,  bade  adieu  to  my  two  excellent  coun- 
trymen, from  whom  I  had  recei^  od  so  many  disinterested 
favors. 

After  leaving  the  town,  we  travelled  about  a  league 
on  a  tolerably  smooth  road,  and  then  turned  off  into  a 
winding  footpath.     I  was  on  the  mule,  and  my  guide,  a 


*  When  this  narrative  was  written,  Mr.  Sprague  was  alive,  but  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  he  is  now  dead.  Without  this  explanation,  there  would  be  a  discre- 
pancy in  the  relation  of  this  part  of  my  history. 


280 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


merry  fellow,  trudged  along  on  foot,  sometimes  by  my 
side,  sometimes  a  few  yards  ahead,  and  when  we  camo 
to  a  smooth  path,  I  allowed  him  to  ride  on  the  beast  be- 
hind me.  The  distance  from  Algeciras  to  Cadiz  is  about 
forty  miles,  and  it  was  our  intention  to  go  to  Medina 
and  put  up  for  the  night.  I  soon  found  we  had  a  very 
intricate  and  difficult  journey  to  perform  The  whole 
country  presented  a  most  wild  and  desolate  appearance  ; 
in  fiict  it  seemed  to  me  that  there  could  have  been  little 
or  no  change  in  this  part  of  Spain,  for  the  last  five  or 
six  centuries.  There  were  no  public  roads,  a  very  thin 
and  scattered  population,  that  lived  in  a  wretched  state 
of  poverty. 

Sometimes  we  travelled  through  deep  and  dariv  ra- 
vines, overgrown  with  trees  and  bushes  :  and  after 
passing  a  deep  and  gloomy  dell,  where  we  lost  sight 
of  the  sun  at  times  for  a  space  of  half  an  hour,  we 
would  then  commence  ascending  a  high  mountain.  We 
generally  found  a  time-worn  foot-path  running  in  a  zigzag 
direction  up  these  dreary  mountains.  This  mode  of 
ascending  would,  lu  ciL-^-^nn's  phrase,  be  called  "beat- 
ing up." 

The  progress  certainly  is  slow  and  fatiguing,  but  the 
traveller  is  richly  rewarded  for  all  his  toil,  when  once  on 
the  top  of  one  of  these  stupendous  mountains.  Here  he 
has  a  splendid  view  of  the .  Straits  of  Gibraltar  and  the 
broad  Atlantic  on  the  south  and  east,  while  the  wild  and 
unbroken  scenery  of  the  surrounding  country  is  truly 
magnificent. 

We  continued  to  travel  on  in  this  manner  until 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  we  came  to  a 
miserable  posada.  Here  we  stopped  to  feed  the  mule 
and  rest  and  refresh  ourselves  for  an  hour,  and  found,  to 
my  great  su,.^   '  :e,  we  had  only  made  about  ten  miles 


[1814. 


1814.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


281 


j8  by  my 
wc  came 
beast  bc- 
L  is  about 

0  Medina 
ad  a  very 
^he  whole 
pearance ; 
been  little 
ast  five  or 
t  very  thin 
ched  state 

1  dariv  ra- 
and  after 
lost  sight 

1  hour,  we 
itain.  We 
\  in  a  zigzag 
s  mode  of 
lied  "beat- 

ng,  but  the 
len  once  on 
Here  he 

;ar  and  the 
he  wild  and 

;ry  is  truly 

anner  until 
came  to  a 
d  the  mule 
nd  found,  to 
[it  ten  miles 


from  Algeciras,  and  were  still  about  the  same  distance 
from  Medina. 

Tiie  people  of  the  United  States  can  scarcely  believe 
that  an  old  country  like  Spain  is  in  such  a  wretched 
condition  as  I  found  this  part  of  it ;  without  roads,  the 
land  generally  uncultivated,  without  hotels  or  taverns  to 
accommodate  strangers,  and  hifested  with  robbers  and 
banditti  ;  even  in  the  vicinity  of  cities  and  large  towns, 
tliere  is  no  safety  in  travelling  without  a  military  guard. 
This  is  certainly  a  gloomy  picture  of  poor  Spain — once  so 
great  and  powerful,  now  distracted  by  factions  and  civil 
war,  divested  of  the  greatest  part  of  her  once  rich  colo- 
nies, her  government  weak,  without  money  and  without 
credit. 

There  are  many  causes  for  this  sad  downfall,  but  the 
principal  are,  ignorance,  idleness,  superstition,  priest- 
craft, and  bad  government. 

Oh,  happy  America !  how  glorious  art  thou  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth !  Long  may  an  all-wise  Being 
shower  his  blessings  upon  thee,  and  keep  thee  from  the 
wiles  of  superstition  and  popery  ! 

My  guide  Manuel  said  the  mule  w\as  ready,  and  he 
only  waited  my  pleasure  to  proceed.  I  said,  "  Adios, 
Scnor,"  to  our  ignorant  posadero,  and  we  were  again 
wending  our  intricate  way  towards  Medina.  It  is  im- 
possible for  me  to  describe  the  windings  and  turnings, 
the  up  hill  and  down  course  of  these  villainous  passage- 
ways. (I  will  not  call  them  roads,  for  they  deserve  not  the 
name.) 

At  length  we  caught  sight  of  the  desired  city  where 
we  were  to  remain  during  the  approaching  night.  On 
beholding  Medina  I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  beauti- 
ful simile  of  the  Saviour's,  that  "  a  city  set  on  a  hill  can- 
not be  hid."     This  is  literally  true  with  respect  to  Medi- 


282 


THE   AMEUICAN    TUIVATEERS. 


[lS14. 


na  ;  it  sttuuls  on  a  liigli  hill,  its  walls,  churches  and  hou- 
ses arc  all  plastered  and  whitened,  and  it  may  be  seen  at 
a  great  distance  in  every  direction.  For  about  a  league 
before  we  reached  this  elevated  city,  we  came  into  a  more 
pleasant  country  ;  we  now  and  then  met  with  patches  of 
cultivated  and  pasture  land,  and  saw  also  occasionally  a 
small  Hacienda,  with  running  brooks  and  marks  of  civil- 
ization. In  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  town,  I 
frequently  saw  small  stone  bridges,  wliich  appeared  ex- 
tremely ancient ;  they  were  evidently  not  built  in  mod- 
ern days,  but  were  probably  erected  either  by  the  Ro- 
mans or  Moors,  in  the  olden  times,  when  Spain  was  sub- 
dued by  these  ancient  and  once  powerful  nations,  For 
some  distance  around  the  foot  of  the  hill  or  mountain  on 
which  Medina  is  located,  the  grounds  are  pleasantly  di- 
versified with  olive  fields,  orange  gardens  and  green 
mea'dows,  on  which  herds  of  cattle  were  grazing.  When 
we  passed  through  these  rural  scenes,  the  weather  was 
soft  and  fine,  and  here  w^e  inhaled  the  light  and  exhila- 
rating air  from  the  orange  groves.  What  a  delightful 
country  !  God  has  done  every  thing  for  this  people,  but 
they  have  done  nothing  for  themselves.  How  lovely  is 
nature  when  softened  and  cultivated  by  the  hand  of  in- 
dustry, and  how  happy  is  man  when  governed  by  just 
and  righteous  principles,  for  the  benefit  of  himself  and 
his  fellow-man! 

Fortunately  we  arrived  at  this  singular  city  just  before 
sundown,  which  enabled  me  to  enjoy  a  beautiful  view 
from  its  high  walls,  while  the  sun  was  gilding  with  its 
setting  rays  the  towers  of  the  churches,  and  the  clouds 
and  mountains  beyond  them.  It  certainly  was  not  so 
grand  and  sublim^^  as  that  which  I  saw  in  the  morning 
from  the  top  of  the  lofty  mountains,  but  it  was  truly  de- 
lightful to  behold  the  peaceful  scenery  of  pastoral  life, 


[l814. 

and  hou- 
)C  seen  at 
a  league 
to  a  more 
atches  of 
sionally  a 
s  of  civil- 
e  town,  I 
I  eared  ex- 
it in  mod- 
y  the  Ro- 
n  was  sub- 
ions,     For 
ountain  on 
asantly  di- 
and  green 
ng.    When 
eather  was 
and  cxhila- 
i  delightful 
icople,  but 
lovely  is 
hand  of  in- 
ledby  just 
limself  and 

just  before 
lutiful  view 
|ng  with  its 
the  clouds 
Isvas  not  so 
10  morning 
^as  truly  de- 
istoral  life, 


1814.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PUIVATEEUS. 


283 


contrasted  with  the  wild  and  savage  ravines  in  the  back- 
ground of  tlic  picture.  Who  can  behold  sucli  scenes  as 
these  and  not  become  a  better  man,  wliile  tlius  lo(jking 
through  nature  up  to  nature's  God?  "  IIow  wonderfid 
arc  thy  works,  0  God,  in  wisdom  hast  Thou  made  them 
all." 

My  guide  led  me  to  a  miserable  posada  to  put  up  for 
the  night.  When  I  asked  for  a  room,  I  was  shown  into 
a  dark,  gloomy,  prison-like  place  about  ten  feet  square, 
with  a  stone  floor  and  but  one  chair,  without  a  bed  or  a 
table,  and  all  I  could  get  from  the  posadcro  was  a  few 
boiled  eggs,  with  some  sour  wine.  Fortunately,  my 
kind  friends  in  Algeciras  had  provided  stores  for  myself 
and  guide  ;  so  that  with  the  eggs  and  wine  we  made  a 
v.olerable  supper.  Being  fatigued  with  the  day's  ride,  I 
asked  for  a  bed,  when  a  coarse  one  of  straw  was  brought 
and  spread  upon  the  stone  floor,  without  either  blanket, 
sheet,  or  pillow.  I  threw  myself  upon  this  bed,  and, 
with  my  cloak  for  a  covering,  was  soon  asleep,  and 
scarcely  awoke  until  roused  at  daylight,  by  my  guide,  to 
resume  our  journey. 

Whether  Manuel  took  me  to  this  miserable  stopping 
place  from  motives  of  policy — to  avoid  suspicion  and  ob- 
servation— I  know  not.  It  is,  however,  more  than  prob- 
able that  there  are  better  lodging-houses  for  those  better 
acquainted  with  the  town.  1  had  entire  confldence  in  my 
guide,  he  being  recommended  by  my  kind  friends  Messrs. 
Sprague  and  Leach,  and  was  therefore  satisfied.  After 
settling  our  bill,  we  were  soon  on  the  road  descending 
from  the  lofty  city.  I  regret  I  had  not  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  more  of  the  town,  but  as  we  had  not  made  but 
half  the  journey,  and  Cadiz  was  still  twenty-two  miles 
distant,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  hasten  our  depart- 
ui'e.    I  saw  it  was  a  walled  town,  and  was  told  it  con- 


284 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1814. 


tained  nhont  eight  or  ten  thousand  inhabitants  ;  with  a 
fort,  or  castle,  two  or  three  churches,  five  or  six  monaste- 
ries and  two  hospitals,  and  that  there  were  several  man- 
ufactories of  earthenware,  which  was  principally  sold  in 
Cadiz  and  Seville. 

After  leaving  Medina,  we  found  the  country  less  moun- 
tainous and   the    roads    tolerably    good.      We    passed 
through   several   small   towns  and  villages,  and  as  we 
drew  near  to  Cadiz,  were  able  to  purchase  the  ordinary 
necessaries  of  life.     Notwithstanding   we    had    only  a 
journey  of  twenty-two  miles  from  Medina,  we  did  not 
arrive  in  Cadiz  until  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  the 
28th  of  December,  1814.     Here  I  put  up  at  one  of  the 
principal   hotels  for   the   night.     The  next  morning  I 
settled  with  and  dispatched  my  guide  ;  we  parted  mutu- 
ally satisfied.     I  then  sallied  out  in  pursuit  of  my  own 
countrymen,  and  soon  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with 
an  old  friend,  James  Haggarty,  Esq.,  a  native  of  Rich- 
mond, Virginia.     I  immediately  took  lodgings  with  that 
gentleman,   in    a  j)rivatc-family,   which    consisted  of  a 
widow  lady  and  her  four   daughters.     Sefiora  Quartini 
was  a  native    of  Cadiz,  and  a  kind,  excellent  woman. 
The  daughters  were  very  amiable  and  obliging,  and  from 
their   frequent  intercourse  with    American   gentlemen, 
two  of  them  had  acquired  a  pretty  good  knowledge  of 
the  English  language.     These   benevolent  j)eoplc  were 
full  of  sympathy  and  kindness.     They  were  truly  pious, 
without  ostentation,  and  although  Roman  Catholics,  Avere 
free  from  bigotry.     Their  goodness  of  heart  and  simple 
manners  made  even  strangers  feel  perfectly  at  home,  and 
I  regarded  myself  as  fortunate  in  becoming  an  inmate 
of  this  delightful  family. 

My  friend  H.  introduced  me  to  our  Consul,  Joseph  E. 
Bloomfield,  Esq.,  and  also  to  Richard  W.  Mead,  Esq., 


1815.] 


TIIE    AMERICAN    riUVATKKUS 


285 


and  his  amiable  family.  Mr.  Moiid.  was  from  Philadel- 
phia, and  a  resident  merchant  here  at  this  time.  During 
my  stay,  I  experienced  much  hosj)itality  Ijoth  from  our 
worthy  Consul  and  Mr.  Mead.  The  latter  gentleman 
politely  gave  me  a  free  ticket  to  his  box  in  the  theatre, 
and  rendered  me  many  little  civilities,  which  are  always 
gratifying  to  a  stranger.  My  friend  Haggarty  was  al- 
always  ready  to  negotiate  my  drafts  on  Bordeaux  or 
London,  so  that,  as  far  as  pert.!onal  comfort  was  concerned, 
I  had  nothing  to  complain  of  A  few  days  after  my  ar- 
rival here,  1  received  a  letter  from  my  friend  William 
Leach,  Esq.,  informing  me  that  the  good  old  Norwegian, 
soon  after  I  left  Algeciras,  came  over  from  Gibraltar  to 
see  me,  and  that  he  had  been  unable  to  learn  the  fate  of 
ray  oflicers.  The  letter  also  brought  me  glad  tidings  of 
the  victory  of  General  Brown  over  the  British,  at  Fort 
Erie,  and  of  the  prospect  of  an  early  treaty  of  peace  be- 
ing agreed  upon  by  the  ambassadors  of  the  two  nations, 
at  Ghent. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1815,  I  wrote  to  my  first 
lieutenant,  informing  him  of  my  movements  since  we 
parted  at  Gibraltar,  and  inclosed  him  a  supply  of  money 
and  the  letters  of  introduction,  so  kindly  given  to  me  by 
CaptainWise,  and  Lieutenant  Daly,  hoping  that  they  might 
be  of  use  to  him  and  the  other  officers  if  they  were  sent 
to  England. 

The  Spaniards  are  a  peculiar  people,  and  their  charac- 
ter can  only  be  learned  by  a  long  residence  in  their 
country.  An  intelligent  Spaniard  prides  himself  more 
on  what  his  country  has  been,  than  on  what  it  is  at 
present.  He  mourns  over  her  fallen  greatness,  and  shrugs 
his  shoulders  with  a  sigh. 

The  higher  classes  are  extremely  romantic,  both  in 
love  and  friendship,  and  they  consider  their  word  fully 


286 


THE    AMERICAN  PIIIVATEERS. 


[18].'5. 


equal  (o  a  scaled  bond.     This  high  sense  of  honor  some- 
times descends  even  to  the  highway  robber  ;  for  example, 
I  once  knew  a  gentleman  who  was  robbed  of  $400  (all 
the  money  he  had  with  him),  on  the  highway  from  Seville 
to  Cadiz.     He  o1)served  that  his  was  a  hard  case,  that  he 
had  not  sufficient  means  to  defray  his  expenses  back  to 
Cadiz.    The  robber  observed,  "  Amigo  mao,"  (how  nnich 
will  be  sufficient  to  pay  expenses  on  the  road  ?)     The 
gentleman  replied,  "  I  think  about  fifteen  or  twenty  dol- 
lars."    The  robber  handed  him  twenty  dollars,  with  a 
pompous  air,  and  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
said  :  "  Take  it,  and  don't  say,  on  your  return  to  Cadiz, 
that  you  met  with  a  robber,  who  was  incapable  of  a  gen- 
erous action."     The  ladies  also  partake  of  the   same 
characteristic  traits  ;  they  are  very  effeminate  and  inter- 
esting, with  soft  and  pleasing  manners,  and  though  so 
gentle  and  fascinating,  are,  when  roused,  perfect  hero- 
ines in  courageous  action.     At  the  time  of  which  I  am 
writing  there  was  a  large  circus  or  amphitheatre  in  the 
vicinity   of    Cadiz,    spacious   enough   to   accommodate 
10,000  people.     I  have  seen  the  edifice  filled  to  over- 
flowing with  all  classes  of  the  community,  from  the  Gov- 
ernor and  the  public  authorities  of  the  town  with  their 
families,   down  to  the  common  boatmen  and  laborers, 
collected  together  to  see  three  or  four  men,  on  foot  and 
on  horseback,  fight  and   kill  eight   or  ten   wild   bulls. 
When  a  bull  has  shown  uncommon  fury,  and  a  corres- 
ponding degree  of  coolness  and  courage  was  displayed 
on  the  part  of  the  matadors,  I  have  seen  this  vast  assem- 
blage thrown  into  perfect  ecstasies,  and  the  fine  ladies  in 
the  boxes  wave  their  white  handkerchiefs  with  enthusi- 
astic cries  of  "Viva,  Viva,"  and  chrow  down  garlands 
of  flowers  to  the  matadors  in  the  arena. 

After  relating  these  apparent  crtntradictioiis  in  the 


[1815. 

3Y  somc- 
ixamplc, 
^00  (all 
m  Seville 
i,  that  he 
back  to 
low  much 
d?)     The 
rcnty  dol- 
's,  with  a 
ill  height, 
to  Cadiz, 
B  of  a  gcn- 
the   same 
and  inter- 
though  so 
rfect  hcro- 
vhich  I  am 
atre  in  the 
;ommodate 
id  to  over- 
,m  the  Gov- 
with  their 
d  laborers, 
,n  foot  and 
wild  bulls. 
id  a  corres- 
.s  displayed 
vast  assem- 
ne  ladies  in 
lith  enthusi- 
•n  garlands 


1815.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


287 


Spanish  character,  I  tliink  it  will  readily  bo  conceded 
that  it  requires  a  long  residence  among  thein  fully  to 
understand  their  peculiarities.  I  have  been  for  many 
years  in  conununicatiou  with  Spain  and  her  colonies, 
and  liave  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  there  is  loss  me- 
dium in  the  Spanioh  ciuiracter  than  among  other  nations, 
and  that  there,  the  best  and  the  worst  people  in  the 
world  are  to  be  found. 

I  was  living  here  perfectly  at  leisure,  and,  wliat  with 
the  social  intercourse  of  the  friendly  family  with  whom 
1  lodged,  the  theatre  and  other  public  anuisements,  I 
found  the  time  passed  away  pleasantly  and  rapidly. 

On  the  14th  of  January  I  received  a  warm-hearted 
letter  from  my  kind  and  ever  obliging  fi-icnd  Iloratio 
Sprague,  in  which  ho  mentioned  that  my  escape   had 
been   the   wonder   of    Gibraltar,    that    an   unremitted 
search  was  made  for  mo  during  three  days,  both  in  the 
city  and  among  the  vessels  in  the  bay,  and  that  the  no- 
ble old  Norwegian  was  fairly  infested  with  midshipmen 
and  others  searching  after  mo.     Although  I  was  agree- 
ably located  in  Cadiz,  and  found  many  kind  friends  from 
whom  I  had  received  much  hospitality  and  friendly  fa- 
vors, still  I  was  an  idler,  and  began  to  tire  of  such  an 
inactive,  useless  life  ;  and  as  there  was  no  prospect  of 
obtaining  a  passage  home  from  this  place,  I  decided  to 
take  passage  in  a  small  Portuguese  schooner  for  Lisbon. 
This  was  a  coasting  vessel,  manned  with  a  captain,  mate, 
and  ten  men,  just  double  the  number  of  men  that  would 
be  employed  to  navigate  an  American  vessel  of  the  same 
size.    In  this  schooner  I  agreed  for  a  berth  in  the  cabin, 
and  was  to  furnish  my  own  stores,  with  the  proviso, 
that  the  cook  should  likewise  do  all  the  cooking  I  might 
require.     With  this  understanding,  I  purchased  a  few 


288 


TUE     AMKIMCAN     PUIVATKEUS. 


[18ir>. 


hfinis,  a  hag  of  bread,  a  domijohn  of  wine,  tea,  sugar, 
cofToo,  and  oilier  stori'S,  .siiflicioiil  for  (ifteoii  days. 

The  Hcliooiior  Lciiig  ready,  I  bade  adieu  to  all  my 
friends  in  Cadiz  on  Ihe  IHth  of  Februniy,  liaving 
been  (here  just  forty-nine  days.  I  sailed  out  of  the 
bay  with  a  heavy  heart  at  parting  with  so  many  who 
were  true  and  faithful.  I  luid  a  few  elioice  books  with 
me  to  read  on  the  i)ass{igo,  and  had  become  so  much 
accustomed  to  all  kinds  of  hfe,  that  I  felt  I  should  be 
able  to  acconnnodate  myself  to  almost  any  condition.  I 
soon  found  that  the  captain  was  a  good  disciplinarian, 
and  managed  his  vessel  very  well.  Although  he  had 
never  made  a  foi'eign  voyage,  ho  knew  the  coast,  and 
miderstood  his  business,  and  I  felt  myself  fortunate  in 
having  fallen  into  such  good  hands. 

This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  sailed  under  the 
Portuguese  flag,  and  many  of  their  customs  were  quite 
new  to  mo.     One  peculiarity  I  never  witnessed  belbro. 

Three  times  a  day  the  captain  summoned  every  body 
on  board  to  the  quarter-deck  ;  then  they  all  knelt  down, 
morning,  noon,  and  evening,  and  repeated  their  pray- 
ers, the  captain  always  taking  the  lead.  The  schooner 
was  a  dull  sailer,  and  as  we  had  generally  light  winds. 
we  did  not  reach  Capo  St.  Vincent  until  the  fifth  day 
after  leaving  Cadiz.  This  is  a  high,  bold  cape,  lying  in 
lat.  37"  3'  North,  long.  9°  2'  West.  We  passed  close 
to  this  conspicuous  headland,  I  should  think  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  distant,  on  the  20th  of  February,  at  4 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  captain  called  all 
hands  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  addressed  them  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Officers  and  men,  it  has  pleased  God  to  bring 
us  in  safety  thus  far  on  our  voyage  ;  now  let  us  all 
kneel  down  and  thank  him  for  his  goodness  and  mercy 


[i8ir). 


iRir).] 


THK   amhuiga:;  i'uivatkkus. 


289 


I,  sugar, 
s. 

I  all  my 
having 
Lt  ol'  the 
iiiny  wlio 
)()ks  with 
so  much 
houhl  1)0 
ilition.  I 
ipliiiariau, 
li  he  had 
coast,  and 
)rtuuate  in 

under  the 
were  quite 
|cd  belbrc. 
every  body 

licit  down, 
their  pray- 
ic  schooner 

ght  winds. 

^  fifth  day 

^)e,  lying  "^ 
fassed   close 
Ilk  not  more 
iruary,  at  4 
In  called  all 
Ihcm  as  fol- 
od  to  bring 
let  us  all 
and  mercy 


to  us  poor  sinners,  and  l)esccc]i  him  to  conduct  us  in 
safety  to  our  destined  port."  They  were,  I  should 
think,  some  nfteon  or  twenty  minutes  oceujjied  in  prayer 
•md  then  returned  to  tlieir  ordinary  avocations. 

We  crept  slowly  along  the  shore,  and  on  the  23d  of 
February  got  safe  into  Lisbon,  after  a  passage  of  eight 
(lays.     [    regret  that  I  recollect    neither    the    ciiptain's 
niune  nor  that  of  his  vessel.     I  had  made  so  many  voy- 
ages to  this   place,   that  upon  landing   !    felt   (piite  at 
home,  and  was  soon  in  the  society  of  many  of  my  own 
countrymen.      I    met  in   Lisbon  a   N        Y'M'k    "-iend, 
James  L.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  who  came  o       to    hat     'aco 
supercargo  of  an  American  vessel,  and  w^as,  like  myself, 
very  desirous  of  returning  to  New  YoiJ^.      Mi.  Ken- 
nedy,  during  his   stay  in    Tiisbon,   became    acquainted 
with  a  Portuguese  house  in  the  wine    trade.      Thesq 
gentlemen  owned  a  nice  little  brig  of  about  one  hundred 
and   eighty  tons   burthen,   called  the  Tres  Ilermanos, 
They  loaded  her  with  a  cargo  of  wine,  oil,   etc.,  and 
agreed  with  him  to  proceed  in  her  to  New  York  as  su- 
percargo, with  liberty  to  return  again  to  Lisbon  in  the 
brig,  or  remain  in  Now  York,  whichever  should  suit  his 
interest.      She  was  commanded  by  a  very  young  man, 
with  but  little  experience,  and  had  a  miserable  set  of 
Portuguese  sailors.     Li  this  brig  one  of  the  owners  of- 
fered me  a  passage,   free  from  charge,  upon  condition 
that  I  would  assist  the  young  captain  with  my  experi- 
ence and  advice.     He  had  never  been  to  the  Ignited 
States,  and  said  he  should  be  very  happy  to  profit  by 
my  experience.     My  friend  Kennedy  was  also  very  de- 
sirous that  I  should  go,  and  said  we  should  enjoy  each 
other's  society,  and  that  would  shorten  the  passage.     I 
must  confess  I  had  some  serious  misgivings  on  the  sub- 
ject of  sailing  under  the  Portuguese  flag  with  an  ineffi- 
19 


290 


Tiip;  ami;fm(;an  immvatkkiis. 


[iHir, 


cieiit  ('iq)tiiiii  iukI  ii  filtliy  civw  ;  hut  as  tlioiu;  was  no 
American  vessel  to  sail  for  suvoral  weeks,  and  llie  treaty 
of  peace  with  (ircat,  Britain  was  not  ratilietl,  1  eoneiuded 
to  take  pasxa^e  in  this  neutral  vessel. 

lU'l'ore  sailing,  the  principal  owner  told  the  captain  to 
iitlend  to  the  (X)nifoit  of  Mr.  Kennedy  und  niyHk'lf,  ami 
to  treat  us  with  respect,  and  consult  inc  ulways  on  the 
most  judicious  course  to  wtecr,  etc.,  etc.  He  [jroniisecl 
to  comply  with  the  request  of  the  owner,  and  with 
much  complacency  said  he  had  no  douht  we  should  he 
very  happy  toj^ether.  All  these  promises  he  most 
shamel'idly  hroke  a  few  dayH  after  we  got  to  sea.  I  re- 
mained in  Lisbon  just  eighteen  days,  and,  on  the  13th 
of  March,  sailed  in  the  good  brig  Tres  llermanos  for 
New  York. 

After  getting  to  sea,  I  was  determined  not  to  inter- 
fere with  the  course  of  the  vessel,  nor  to  ijroiler  my  ad- 
vice, unless  it  was  calle(l  for,  and  then  with  the 
greatest  delicacy  ;  and  never,  in  the  slightest  degree, 
made  any  remark  to  od'end  the  mates  or  sailors  du- 
ring the  long  and  tedious  passage.  The  little,  nar- 
row-minded captain  did  not  consult  mc  at  all  on  the 
course  of  the  vessel,  and  absolutely  appeared  so  jealous 
of  me,  that  my  position  was  almost  insupportable  ;  and 
had  not  my  friend  Kennedy  been  on  board,  and  the 
brig  bound  to  New  York,  I  should  probably  have  been 
worse  treated  by  these  wi'etchcs.  Although  I  scarcely 
exchanged  a  word  with  one  of  his  men  during  the  pas- 
sage, I  once  overheard  them  say  they  should  like  to 
knock  me  in  the  head  and  throw  mc  overboard,  hi 
lieu  of  steering  a  judicious  course,  and  keeping  a  fair 
distance  to  the  northward  of  the  Western  Islands,  the 
poor  devil  steered  down  among  the  islands,  where  wo 
were  becalmed  for  several  days,   and   made  miserable 


[iHir) 


iftii] 


Tin:    AMMIMfAN    IMMVATKKKS. 


291 


I  wttR  no 
lie  tronty 

jiiptaiii  to 

yHvlC,  uinl 

lyH  on  lUo 

l>r()niis(Ml 

and  Nvitli 
should  he 
I  he  most 
sea.  I  r^*- 
n  the  13th 
nimnos  for 

)t  to  intcr- 
MVer  my  ivd- 
i  with    tlio 
test  degree, 
sudors  du- 
little,    nar- 
Lt  all  on  the 
jd  so  jealous 
brtablc  ;  and 
•d,   and  the 
have  been 
rh  I  scarcely 
•iiig  the  pas- 
lould  like  to 
■hoard,    hi 
fair 


ler 


[eeping  a 

Islands,  the 
Ids,  where  we 


Ide  miser 


able 


progress  ;;cltiii)^  to  the  westward.  Tlie  hri;:;  was  in 
Huch  a  liltliy  coinlitioii,  ilmt  Mr.  Kennedy  and  inyselt' 
sull'ert'd  out  of  measure  witli  one  of  the  plagues  of 
Kgypt.  The  proltjihihty  is,  tliat  before  leaving  liisbon 
(lie  sailors  were  allowed  to  sleep  in  the  berths  in  the 
cabin,  and  thus  every  part  of  the  vessel  was  overrun 
with  vermin. 

By  contrary  winds  and  bad  management,  our  passage 
was  prolonged  to  AS  days,  On  the  !)lh  of  May  we  took 
ft  Sandy  Hook  pilot,  and  the  same  da}'  arrived  in  Xew 
Vork.  I  was  rejoiced  to  land  once  more  in  the  Tnited 
Stales,  after  an  absence  of  sixteen  months  and  twenty- 
one  days. 

I  cannot  leave  this  brig  without  warning  my  friends 
!\\)(]  countrymen  never  to  take  passage  across  the  Atlan- 
tic in  a  Tortugucse  vessel  of  any  descrijition. 

On  my  return  home,  I  found  all  my  family  and 
friends  well.  Peace  was  again  restored  to  tiie  United 
States. 

Seven  ami  a  half  months  after  this  date,  I  I'cccived  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Henry  Allen,  the  worthy  young  man,  who 
was  second  lieutenant  with  me  in  the  Leo,  from  which  I 
make  the  following  extmcts  : — 

Salem,  December  24/A- 
Captain  George  Coggeshall : 

Beau  Sir  :  If  you  have  seen  Mr.  Depeystcr,  he  has 
probably  iufoi'med  you  of  my  unfortunate  attemjit  to 
escape  from  Gibraltar. 

After  waiting  al)out  ten  minutes,  (time  I  thought  suf- 
ficient for  you  to  reach  the  mole),  I  left  the  wine  shop 
ill  the  same  manner  as  yourself,  and  had  already  passed 
the  two  gates,  and  was  on  the  mole,  when  I  was  arrested 


292 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


by  the  sergeant  under  wliose  charge  we  were,  who  d«- 
manded,  in  the  most  severe  mannei",  where  you  were. 
S<'nsiblc  that  you  nuist  have  been  on  the  mole  at  the 
time,  I  told  him  that  when  you  left  me,  you  were  going 
to  Messrs.  Turnbull  Sc  Co.'s.  lie  immediately  turned 
back,  and  with  myself  proceeded  to  the  house.  After 
gahiing  it,  and  passing  away  about  forty-five  minutes, 
bo  suspected  I  was  deceiving  him,  consequently  returned 
with  me  to  the  mole  to  make  all  inquiries,  i)ut  in  vain.  He 
loft  your  descrijition  with  the  officer  of  the  mole.  lie  then 
dragged  me  to  the  town  major,  who  went  immediately 
on  horseback  to  every  passage  in  the  garrison  with  your 
description. 

Fortune  and  my  best  wishes,  however,  favored  your 
escape. 

We  were  carried  to  England,  and  remained  till  tlie 
29th  of  April,  then  released,  and  I  came  home  as  an 
nu:ent  for  one  of  the  cartels. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

•niE  PniVATEER  YOnK,  of  BAITIMOHE.  RETURNa  TO  THAT  PLACE  kVrrM  A  SUCCESMFTI. 
CRIISK  UN  THE  COAST  OK  IIUAZIF,,  AND  AMOXd  THE  ISLANIW  1\  THE  Wh;ST  INDUM  — 
THE  PRIVATEER  TORTSMOUTH  CAPTl  UE8  THK  SHIP  JAMES  O!'  LONDON—THE  JAMES  AK- 
RUT.a  AT  POUTHMOUTH,  N.  U. — REMARKS  ON  PUIVATEEUH  IN  NOVIIMHEH,  181i — 
A  OUEAT  MECTINO  OK  MERCHANTS  OK  LlVEItPOOI,  EN(JLAM),  ON  THE  1)TH  OK  8EP- 
TEMUHR,  TO  PETITION  THEIR  OOVmiNMENT  TO  PROTECT  THEM  AOAIXST  AMERICAN 
PUIVATIT.IIS  — THE  TRCE-P/.00I)E1)    YANKEE,    ITllVATEKJi,    SAILS    KItciM    IIHLST,    OX   THE 

24th  ok  novejujer,  18'. 4.  on  a  cruise  l\  the  buitish  chaxxel— anecdote  to 
fiiow  the  spirit  of  the  times — anecdote  about  an  am>;11ican  a,\n  a  british 
okkicer— capture  of  'hie  british  ship  axn  dorothea,  sent  into  iiostt'n 
iivtbe  saratoga — cai'itre  ok  the  brio  hiram  by  the  daaid  porter,  ok  boston 
— arrival  of  the  grand  turk  at  salem,  aiter  a  succks8kul  cruise —8rvehe 
conflict  bet\veen  the  saucy  jack  ^:^\,  two  brmsli  leiteu-ok-m arquk  ships,  oki' 

ST.  IWMINOO— HARD  FKJIIT,  AND  CAITURE  OK  SEViatAL  muilSII  MKRCIIANTMEN,  BV 
THE  KEMP,  PRIVATEER  OF  BALTIMORE — CAPTURE  OK  THE  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  GENERAL 
WILLOUOHBY  BY  THE  YANKEE,  OIU)i:nED  FOR  CHARLESTON  CRUISl':  OP  THE  PRI- 
VATEER HARPY— HER  CAPTLTIE  OP  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  GARLAND — CAIIURB  OF  THE 
ENGLISH  EAST  INDIA  SHIP  STAR,  BY  THE  SURPRISE. 


The  privateer  York,  of  Baltimore,  having  returned 
safe  home  from  a  successful  cruise  on  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
and  among  the  Islands  in  the  West  Indies,  we  hnd  in 
connection  v/ith  this  fortunate  vessel  the  following  re- 
marks, published  in  a  weekly  journal  at  that  time  : 

"  The  successful  cruises  of  our  privateers,  speak  in  a 
voice  of  thunder,  and  tell  Congress  how  the  enemy 
should  be  assailed.  The  prizes  of  the  York,  privateer, 
are  worth  at  least,  a  million  and  a  half  dollars.  It  is 
true  that  the  two  richest  prizes  jecently  captured  by  the 
York,  may  be  recaptured  by  the  enemy,  still  the  priva- 
teer will  reap  a  plentiful  harvest  from  the  spoils  with 
which  she  is  laden. 

"We  hope  and  trust  the  Navy  department  will  be  di- 

(293) 


294 


THE    AMEItlCAN    I'lUVATEERS. 


[1815. 


rccted  to  fit  out  fifty  such  vessels  as  the  York,  to  cruise 
during  the  coming  winter,  with  orders  to  burn,  sink  and 
destroy  the  enemy's  property,  which  we  hope  may 
amount  to  some  fifteen  or  twenty  milHons  of  dollars. 
Perhaps  this  is  the  best  way  to  fight  England  at  sea, 
after  all.  We  have  already  reaped  a  full  harvest  of 
naval  glory,  and  we  should  now  attack  the  foe  in  the 
way  that  we  can  do  him  the  most  essential  injury." 

The  York  did  not  lose  a  single  man  during  her  cruise 
of  thirteen  weeks 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATOERS. 


The  following  prizes  were  taken  by  the  Surprise,  and 
burnt :  brig  Queen  Cliarlotte,  ship  Milnes,  brig  Lively, 
schooner  Prince  Regent,  brig  Willing  Maid,  brig  Polly, 
schooner  Sally.  The  English  privateer  Lively,  1  gun. 
17  men,  brought  into  Salem.  Ship  Caledonia,  from 
Cork  for  Quebec,  with  dry-goods  rum,  etc.,  worth 
$250  000,  divested  her  of  goods  to  the  value  of  $50,000. 
Brigs  Eagle,  Traveller,  Wellington  (4  guns  and  15 
men),  and  Eliza,  were  made  cartels  of,  to  release  the  pri- 
soners. The  Surprise  also  captured  the  brig  Albion, 
schooner  Charlotte  Ann,  and  recaptured  the  boat 
Ann. 

The  privateer  Surprise,  belonged  to  Baltimore,  and  was 
a  very  fortunate  vessel.  During  her  last  cruise,  which 
only  occupied  one  month,  she  captured  twenty  sail  of 
British  raer';hantmen,  including  one  small  p.  ivatecr. 
She  made  197  prisoners,  released  160,  and  brought  into 
port  37.  She  divested  the  s  ip  Caledonia,  and  other 
prizes,  of  Biltish  goods  to  the  amount  of  $60,000,  and 
arrived  safe  at  Salem,  laden  with  rich  spoils  taken  from 


[1815. 

to  cniisc 
I,  sink  and 
liope  may 
of  dollars, 
nd  at  sea, 
harvest  of 

foe  in  the 

jury." 

her  cruise 


1815.] 


THE    AMKUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


295 


urprise,  and 
brig  Lively. 
,  brig  Polly, 

jely,  1  gwn. 
Ionia,  from 
etc.,    worth 

of$50,000. 
ms  and  15 
ease  the  pri- 
)rig  Albion. 

[    the    boat 

ore,  and  was 

ruise,  which 

enty  sail  of 

^1   p.ivatecr. 

[brought  into 

and  other 

60,000,  and 

taken  from 


the  enemy.  Soon  after  she  captured  the  Caledonia,  thu 
English  sailors  left  on  board  recaptured  her,  but  fortu- 
nately the  privateer  fell  in  with  her  again,  took  out  all 
the  Englishmen,  and  sent  her  into  Salem. 

A  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland  paper  of  Sept.  8th,  men- 
tions the  capture  of  several  vessels  by  the  Surprise,  and 
adds.  Captain  Sexton,  of  the  Endeavor,  McFarlanc,  of 
the  Caledonia,  Captain  Reid,  of  the  Milnes,  with  their 
crews,  were  landed  this  morning  from  the  brig  Traveller. 
They  speak  in  the  handsomest  terms  of  the  politeness 
and  attention  they  experienced  from  Captain  Barnes 
and  his  ofliccrs,  during  the  time  they  were  on  board  the 
privateer. 

Three  vessels,  captured  by  the  Shark,  of  New  York, 
off  the  coast  of  Portugal,  and  being  of  little  value,  were 
given  up.  Two  others  were  manned,  and  ordered  f)r 
the  iJniiod  States. 

Ketch  Expedition,  with  75  pipes  of  wine,  and  1,150 
quintals  of  barilla,  sent  into  New  York  by  the  Grampus, 
of  Baltimore. 

Schooner ,  with  dry- goods,  sent  into  Salem  by  tlic 

Yiper,  of  that  port. 

Brig  Catherine  and  William,  of  London,  with  dry- 
goods,  prize  to  the  Grampus,  lost  near  Beaufort,  S.  C,  on 
the  20th  of  Sept. 

Cutter  Flying  Fish,  with  sweet  oil,  captured  by 
the  Sabine,  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  a  southern  port. 

Brig  Aaron,  with  wine  and  codfish,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  sent  into  an  eastern  port. 

Two  ships  taken  by  the  Syren,  oiT  the  British  coast, 
and  destroyed. 

The  Steady,  from  Bordeaux  for  Newfoundland,  and 
the  James,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce,  taken  and  burnt,  by 
the  Prince  of  Neufchatel. 


290 


THE   AMERICAN    PIIIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


Brig  (.^olior,  from  Cork  for  Quebec,  with  a  full  cargo 
of  provisions,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  of  Baltimore,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Harmony,  from  Alicant,  for  Newfoundland,  with 
salt  and  wine,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of 
the  latter,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  relieve  her  of  pri- 
soners. 

Brig  Elizabeth,  from  Cork  for  Newfoundland,  cap- 
tured l)y  the  same  and  burnt. 

Ship ,  of  8  guns,  from  Greenock  for  Newfound- 
land, with  dry-goods  and  wine,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested  of  her  cargo,  and  sent  into  port. 

The  Amelia  also  captured,  and  ordered  into  port  the 
brig  Ann,  with  a  valuable  cargo.  She  had  a  short  com- 
bat with  the  Neptune,  but  no  person  was  hurt  on  either 
side.  When  last  heard  of,  she  had  32  prisoners  onboard, 
who  were  very  troublesome.  After  manning  all  her 
pri/.es,  she  had  only  58  of  her  crew  left. 

British  schooner ,  captured   by   the    Leach,   of 

Salem,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  i^risoners. 

Sloop  Jane,  70  tons,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce,  for  Fal- 
mouth, captured  by  the  Prince  of  Neufchatel,  privateer, 
of  Now  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Triton,  187  tons,  two  guns,  from  Cadiz  for  Lon- 
don, with  an  assorted  cargo,  captured  by  the  same,  part 
of  the  cargo  taken  out  and  the  vessel  sunk. 

Transport  brig  Aaron,  142  tons,  4  guns,  from  Gib- 
raltar for  Lisbon,  in  ballast,  taken  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Apollo,  135  tons,  from  St.  Ubes  for  Riga,  with 
a  cargo  of  salt,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Cutter  General  Doyl*'',  87  tons,  coppered,  from  Leg- 
horn for  Bristol,  with  a  cargo  of  oil,  captured  by  the 
same,  and  burnt. 


[1815. 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


207 


all  cargo 
lore,  and 

and,  with 
ested  of 
jr  of  pri- 

iand,  cap- 

[cwfound- 
the  same, 

o  port  llie 
short  com- 
■t  on  cither 
s  onboard, 
ng  all  her 

Leach,  of 

'S. 

ce,  for  Fal- 
,  privateer, 

iiz  for  Lon- 
e  same,  part 

I 

5,  from  Gib- 
)  same,  and 

r  Riga,  with 
Durnt. 

d,  from  Leg- 
tured  by  the 


Sloop  George,  50  tons,  from  Milford  Haven  for  Tly- 
moutli,  with  coals,  taken  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Barewick  Packet,  from  Cork  for  Bristol,  in  bal- 
last, with  50  passengers,  taken  by  the  same,  and  nuule  a 
cartel  of.  • 

Brig  Sibrou,  200  tons  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Nymph,  150  tons,  from  St.  Jean  de  Luce  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  di- 
vested of  the  dry-goods  ;  the  rest  of  the  cargo  was  thrown 
overboard.  The  Nymph  was  then  given  up  to  the  pri- 
soners. 

Brig  Allnon,  155  tons,  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  divested  of  her  valuable  articles,  and 
burnt. 

Ship  Harmony,  290  tons,  4  guns,  from  Greenock  for 
Cork,  with  dry-goods  and  other  valuable  articles,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  divested,  and  ordered  into  port. 
She  was  retaken  by  the  English  a  few  days  after. 

Brig  Charlotte,  190  tons,  8  guns,  from  Rio  Janeiro, 
with  a  cargo  of  hides,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Brig  Mary  Ann,  103  tons,  from  St.  Johns  for  Barba- 
docs,  with  a  cargo  of  lumber,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Ship  Neptune,  from  Greenock  for  Newfoundland  llO 
tons  burthen,  8  guns,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  and  s^iit 
into  New  York,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  valuable 
goods. 

Schooner  Ann,  with  sugar  and  molasses,  from  Halifax 
for  the  new  British  port  of  Castine,  captured  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner  :  When  she  sailed,  she  had  on  board  4 
American  seamen,   who  shipped  in  Halifax,  and  when 


298 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


ofT  the  mouth  of  tlie  Penobscot  river,  tlicy  rose  upon 
the  captain  and  the  remainder  of  the  crew  (0  in  num- 
ber), confined  them  beh)w,  secured  all  the  fire-arms  on 
board,  and  arrived  in  safety  at  Thomastown. 

Ship  James,  from  London  for  Quel)ec,  with  dry-goods, 
etc.,  captured  l)y  the  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth,  and 
divested  of  200  bales  and  cases  of  goods,  valued  at  from 
$200,000  to  $300,000,  and  then  ordered  into  port.  The 
privateer,  with  her  ricli  spoils  safely  arrived.  The 
cargo  of  the  James  was  invoiced  at  £100,000,  sterling. 
She  safely  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  N.  II. 

Brig ,  captured  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  and  di- 
vested of  150  hhds.  of  rum,  and  given  up.  The  Dash 
arrived  at  Wiscassct. 

Schooner  -  -,  from  Halifax,  laden  with  salmon  and 
herrings,  sent  into  Wilnungton,  N.  C,  by  a  letter-of- 
marque  schooner  from  that  port. 


STATE  OF  AFFAIRS  AT  THIS  PERIOD  OF  THE  WAR. 

A  great  many  additional  large  privateers  were  now 
out  during  this  month,  and  sailed  from  and  returned  to 
most  of  our  Atlantic  ports,  when  it  best  suited  their 
convenience. 

The  Chesapeake  Bay  was,  at  this  time,  unfortunately 
in  the  power  of  the  enemy,  but  still  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise, and  skill  of  the  people  residing  on  its  shores  and 
rivers  did  not  relax  in  energy.  And  though  their 
})rivateers  were  prevented,  for  a  time,  from  entering  the 
))0rts  of  the  <^hesapeake,  they  were  cruising  in  almost 
every  sea,  and  sending  their  prizes  into  the  different  At- 
lantic ports.  Fine  large  schooners  were  built  at  many 
other  places  besides  Baltimore — that  is  to  say,  after 
their  construction. 


[1815. 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


299 


)sc  upon 
in  num- 
■arms  on 

•y-goods, 
luth,  and 
1  at  from 
ort.  The 
!d.  The 
sterling. 

d,  and  di- 
[he  Dash 

Imon  and 
Ictter-of- 


AR. 

were  now 
jturned  to 
iited  tlieir 

brtunately 
t  of  enter- 
shores  and 
)ugh  their 
itering  the 

in  ahnost 
ffercnt  At- 
It  at  many 

say,  after 


Their  hcautiful  models  were  imitated  and  adopted  all 
over  the  United  States.  The  capital  of  our  wealthy 
merchants  in  the  the  Atlantic  cities  was  liberally  em- 
ployed in  building  and  fitting  out  privateers  against  our 
common  enemy  ;  for,  thank  God,  we  had  many  harboi-s 
and  places  that  tlicy  could  not  blockade,  notwithstand- 
ing their  declaration  that  our  ports  were  blockaded  from 
Maine  to  Ueorgia. 

Among  the  privateers  fitted  out,  were  some  stout  ves- 
sels, one  with  22  long  heavy  guns,  and  two  others  car- 
rying from  20  to  30  guns.  In  a  newspaper  of  this  day, 
we  notice  the  sailing  of  five  privateers,  and  the  building 
of  three  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boston — one  called  the 
Rchideer,  pierced  for  22  guns — a  noble  vessel,  coppered, 
built  of  the  best  material,  and  completed  in  35  working 
days.  On  her  cradle,  the  Avon,  of  the  same  rate,  was  laid 
down  to  be  finished  in  eighteen  working  days.  They 
were  also  building  the  Blakely,  of  like  size  and  dimen- 
sions, to  be  finished  with  the  same  dispatch.  In  New  York 
they  were  exceedingly  busy  with  vessels  of  tliis  kind. 
And  the  exertions  of  individuals,  aided  by  the  project 
lately  adopted  by  Congress,  to  fit  out  twenty  vessels, 
which  was  to  be  carried  into  immediate  execution,  in 
order  to  make  the  enemy  feel  the  war  much  more  sensi- 
bly than  he  had  done  ;  giving  a  "  demonstration"  of  his 
inability  to  defend  his  own  coasts,  much  less  to  blockade 
all  the  ports  of  the  world.  But  some  measure  must  be 
provided  to  bring  in  a  part  of  the  prisoners  they  took. 
The  enemy  did  not  acknowledge  paroles  made  at  sea, 
except  in  some  few  isolated  cases,  and  held  many  of  our 
gallant  seamen  in  captivit}' .  These  brave  fellows  should 
be  released  to  repay  favors  received.  The  balance  of 
prisoners  of  this  class  would  have  been  greatly  in  our 
favor,  if 'one  half  of  those  taken  had  been  brouglit  hito 


300 


TIIK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


port.     There  was  a  real  difTioulty  iii  doing  it,  but  it 
should  have  been  done,  one  way  or  anotlier. 

PURLIC  OPINION  IN  GREAT  RUITAIN. 

The  English  ])ai)er.s  teem  with  articles  about  our  pri- 
vateers. Their  fears  and  suITerings  magnified  lliclr 
numbers  prodigiously  !  The  master  of  a  vessel  who  was 
captured  three  times,  and  as  often  recaptured,  i'ei)oi-teil 
in  London,  that  he  had  seen  no  less  than  ten  of  these 
terrible  things  during  his  voyage  !  Tlie  Wasp  hud 
created  a  wonderful  sensation  ;  and  the  United  States 
brig  Syren  was  playing  a  frightful  tune  ;  she  had  burnt 
many  valuable  vessels.  The  schooners  were  })oking 
themselves  into  their  very  ports,  and  John  Bull,  wliilo 
he  grumbled  most  lustily,  was  sorely  mortified,  and  not 
a  little  surprised  at  their  impudence !  Meetings  of  mer- 
chants were  held  at  several  places  to  remonstrate 
against  their  depredations !  We  notice  the  proceedings 
at  Liverpool  and  Glasgow  as  samples  : 

"At  Halifax,  insurance  has  been  absolutely  refused 
on  most  vessels  ;  on  others,  33  per  cent,  has  been  added 
to  the  former  premiums  !" 

We  do  not  hear  of  the  capture  of  but  one  pri- 
vateer for  several  weeks  ;  that  was  the  Harlequin,  a  new 
vessel,  elegantl}^  fitted  from  an  eastern  port.  She  was 
taken  by  the  Bulwark,  74,  by  stratagem.  The  depreda- 
tions of  the  American  privateers  on  the  coasts  of  Ireland 
and  Scotland  had  produced  so  strong  a  sensation  at 
Lloyd's,  that  it  was  difficult  to  get  policies  underwritten, 
except  at  enormous  rates  of  premiums.  ThMeen 
guineas  for  £100  wis  paid  to  insure  vessels  across  the 
Irish  Channel !  Such  a  thing  never  happened,  we  be- 
lieve, before. 

''London,  September  Wi. — At  a  meeting  of  merchants, 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATKERS. 


301 


t(hip-o\vnei\s,  etc.,  iit  Liver[)ool,  to  consider  of  ii  rcpi-o- 
sciitiiliou  to  govunnnent  on  the  .sultjcot  of  the  nmncrous 
captures  mside  l)y  Americim  cruisor.s.  Afr.  (ilad.sloue  pi'o- 
poscd  ail  address  to  the  lords  of  the  A(hiiiruhy,  l)utjiner 
uiiiuy  severe  observations  that  representations  had  Itcen 
made  to  tliat  department  without  re(h'ess,  Mr.  (Mear 
proposed  an  address  to  the  Prince  Regent,  wliich,  after 
warm  opposition  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Ghidstone,  was  car- 
ried. The  address  conveys  a  censure  n})()n  the  Admi- 
ralty. Subsequently,  a  counter  address  to  the  Admiralty 
was  voted  at  another  meeting,  to  which  Mr.  Crocker  re- 
plied, on  the  3d  inst,,  that  an  ample  force  had  been  un- 
der the  orders  of  the  admirals  commanding  the  western 
stations  ;  and  that,  during  the  time  when  the  enemy's 
depredations  are  stated  to  have  taken  place,  not  fewer 
than  three  frigates  and  fourteen  sloops  were  actually  at 
sea,  for  the  immediate  protection  of  St.  George's  chan- 
nel, and  the  western  and  northern  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom. 

In  the  memorials  of  the  merchants,  etc.,  of  Liver- 
pool, to  the  Admiralty,  complaining  of  a  want  of 
suflicient  naval  protection  against  American  captures, 
they  v'^pcak  of  privateers  destroying  vessels  as  a  novel 
and  extraordinary  practice,  which  they  say  they  are  in- 
formed is  promoted  by  pecuniary  rewards  from  the 
American  government,  and  they  wish  measures  adopted 
to  prevent,  as  much  as  })Ossible,  the  ruinous  effects  of 
this  "  new  system  of  warf^ire." 

At  a  very  numerous  meeting  of  the  merchants, 
manufacturers,  ship-owners,  and  underwriters,  of  the 
city  of  Glasgow,  called  by  a  public  advertisement, 
and  held  by  special  requisition  to  the  Lord  Pro- 
vost, on  Wednesday,  the  7th  of  September,  1814, 
the   Lord    Provost    in    the    Chair,    it    was    "  Unani- 


302 


TllK    AMKKICAN    I'UIVATEEUS. 


ri8l6. 


inoiisly  ros()lvc!(I,  that  (lie  miinhcr  of  Aniericun  privateers 
witli  wliicli  oijrcluuniel.s  liavo  been  infested,  the  audai.'iiy 
with  which  they  have  approached  our  coastw,  and  the 
Hueeess  vvitli  wliieli  their  eiiterpri.se  lias  l>eeu  attended, 
have  proved  injurious  to  our  ('(jninierec,  huni)>Hii<;'  to 
our  [)ride,  and  discreditable  to  the  directoi's  of  the  naval 
power  of  the  l^ritish  nation,  wliose  lla^',  till  of  late, 
waved  over  every  sea,  and  triumphed  over  every  rival. 
That  there  is  reason  to  believe,  that  in  the  short  space  of 
less  than  twenty-lbui'  months,  above  eij^ht  hundred  ves- 
sels have  been  ca})tured  by  that  power,  whose  inaritime 
strength  we  have  hitherto  impolitically  held  in  conteini)t. 
That,  at  a  time  when  wo  were  at  peace  with  all  the  rest 
of  the  world,  when  the  maintenance  of  our  inai'ine 
costs  so  larg'e  a  sum  to  the  country,  when  the  mercantile 
and  shipping  interests  })ay  a  tax  for  protection,  under 
the  form  of  convoy  duty,  and  wlien,  in  the  plenitude  of 
our  j)0wer,  we  have  declared  the  whole  American  coast 
under  blockade,  it  is  equally  distressing  and  mortifying 
that  our  ships  cannot,  with  safety,  traverse  our  own 
channels  ;  that  insiiuaicc  cannot  be  cfrectcd  but  at  an 
excessive  premium  ;  and  that  a  liorde  of  American 
cruisers  should  be  allowed,  unheeded,  unresisted  and  un- 
molested, to  take,  bum  or  sink,  our  own  vessels,  in 
our  own  inlets,  and  almost  in  sight  of  our  own  har- 
bors. 

"  That  the  ports  of  the  Clyde  have  sustained  severe 
loss  from  the  depredations  already  committed,  and 
there  is  reason  to  apprehend  still  more  serious  suflering, 
not  only  from  the  extent  of  the  coasting  trade  and  the 
number  of  vessels  yet  to  arrive  from  abroad,  but  as  the 
time  is  fast  approaching  when  the  outward-bound  ships 
must  proceed  to  Cork  for  convoys,  and  when,  during 
the  winter  season,  the  opportunities  of  the  enemy  will 


[1816. 

rivatccrs 

audacity 

aiul  the 
attiMulcd, 
ui>rui<!;  lo 
the  miviil 

1     of    lilt  13, 

•cry  riviil. 

.si)a(:e  ol' 

idrud  vcs- 

inaritiine 
conlcni})!. 
all  the  rest 
Lir  mai'ine 
mercantile 
ion,  undei 
Dnitiidc  of 
rican  coatst 
luortii'ying 
2  our  own 

but  at  an 
'  Anici-ican 
led  and  un- 

vessels,  in 
L'  own  har- 
med S(,vere 
iiitted,  and 
IS  suflering, 
ide  and  the 

but  as  the 
30imd  ships 
hen,  during 

enemy  will 


1815.] 


Tim    AMKUIC.VN    PRIVATKKRS. 


t>0.» 


be  inorea.scd,  l)()th  to  eajtturc  willi  ease  and  escape  with 
ini|)iniity. 

"  That  tlie  Ny.stem  of  hurniii^  and  destroyin;^  every 
articile  whicli  tliei'e  i.s  fear  of  losing — a  system  j)ur- 
Hued  Ity  all  the  cruisers,  and  eiicoura;4ed  hy  their  own 
governnuMit — diminishes  the  chanc(>s  of  recapture,  and 
renders  the  necessity  of  prevention  more  ur<;ent. 

"That  from  the  (!oldness and  nej^lect  with  which  pivvi- 
uus  reujonstrances  from  other  (piai'ters  have  Iummi  re- 
ceived l)y  the  Admiralty,  this  meeting  reluctantly  feels 
it  an  imperious  duty  at  once  to  adilress  the  Throiu^  and 
that  there(V)re  a  petition  be  forwanhMl  to  Ids  Royal  High- 
ness, the  Prinze  Regent,  acting  in  the  nanu*  and  on  be- 
half of  His  Majesty,  representing  the  above  grievances, 
and  humbly  praying  that  his  Iloyal  Highness  will  l>e  gra- 
ciously })leased  to  direct  such  measures  to  be  adojjted,  as 
shall  })romptly  and  elfeclually  prote(!t  the  trade  on  the 
coast  of  this  kingdom,  from  the  numerous  insulting  and 
destructive  depre(hiti()ns  of  tlio  enemy;  and  that  the 
Lord  Provost  be  requested  to  transmit  the  third  petition 
accordingly. 

"That  the  thaid^s  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  Mr. 
Ewing,  for  the  ability  with  which  he  prepared  and  intro- 
duced the  business  of  tliis  day. 

"  That  tlie  thanks  of  this  meeting  bo  given  to  the  gen- 
tlemen who  signed  this  requisition. 

"R.  FINLAY,  Provost." 

The  True  Blooded  Yankee,  American  privateer,  has 
been  completely  refitted  for  sea,  manned  with  a  crew  of 
200  men,  and  sailed  from  Brest  on  the  21st  of  Novem- 
ber, supposed  for  the  purpose  of  cruising  in  tlie  British 
Channel.  Her  orders  were  to  sink,  burn  and  destroy, 
and  not  to  capture  with  the  intention   of  sending  into 


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THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1S15. 


port ;  but  to  divest  all  prizes  of  their  valuable  articles. 
Respecting  this  vessel,  see  ajipcnclix. 

POLITICAL    DIVINITY— ANECDOTE   TO   SHOW  THE  SPIRIT    OF  THE 

TIMES. 

"  War  is  a  national  punisliment  for  national  sins." 
Good. 

"  The  English  nation  is  more  at  war  than  any  other  in 
Christendom."     True. 

Then  "the  bulwark  of  our  holy  religion  is  the  great- 
est sinner  in  Christendom."     Undeniable  logic. 

"  An  American  officer  who  carried  a  flag  over  to  the 
British  lines,  after  having  dispatched  the  business  of  his 
mission,  was  invited  by  the  commanding  British  officer 
to  dine.  As  usual,  the  wine  was  circulated,  and  a  British 
officer  being  called  upon  for  a  toast,  gave,  "  Mr.  Madi- 
son, dead  or  alive  ;"  which  the  Yankee  drank  witho.'t 
appearing  to  notice  it.  When  it  came  to  the  American's 
turn  to  give  a  toast,  he  gave,  "  the  Prince  Regent,  drunk 
or  sober."  "Sir,"  said  the  British  officer,  bristling  up  and 
coloring  with  anger,  "  that  is  an  insult."  "  No,  sir,"  an- 
swered the  American  very  coolly,  "  it  is  only  a  reply  to 
one. 


jj 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEEES. 

Brig  Concord,  captured  by  a  letter-of-marque  of  Wil- 
mington, N.  C,  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

Brig  Sir  John  Sherbrook,  1 2  guns,  from  Halifax  for 
Alicant,  laden  with  fish  and  oil,  captured  by  the  Syren 
of  Baltimore,  and  driven  on  shore  at  Rockaway,  N.  J., 
to  avoid  a  recapture  by  the  blockading  squadron  off  New 
Jersey.  On  abandoning  her,  the  prize-crew  set  her  on 
fire.     She  was  burnt,  but  her  armament,  etc.,  was  saved. 

Ann  and  Eliza  from  NewfoundlandforMeramachi,  cap- 
tured by  the  Mammoth  and  destroyed. 


[1S15. 

s  articles. 

:Tt    OF  THE 

mal  sins." 
ly  other  in 

1  tlie  great- 
lie. 

over  to  the 
iness  of  his 
'itish  officer 
,nd  a  British 
"  Mr.  Madi- 
ank  witho.'t 
I  American's 
gent,  drunk 
thng  up  and 
[No,  sir,"  an- 
y  a  reply  to 


rque 


1815.J 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


30^ 


Sliips  Urania  and  Anisby,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
also  destroyed. 

Eliza,  from  Newfoundland  for  Prince  Edward's  Lsl- 
aiid,  captured  by  the  same,  and  given  up. 

Ship  Dobson  from  Cork  for  Quebec,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Sallust,  from  England  for  Quebec,  captured  by  the 
same,  divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of.  The  Sallust 
arrived  at  Liverpool,  England. 

The  Mammoth,  when  last  heard  of,  namely  by  pri- 
soners, from  Liverpool,  had  been  out  seven  weeks, 
and  made  IG  prizes.  She  cruised  17  days  oil"  Cape 
Clear,  Ireland,  where  several  valuable  vessels  were  man- 
ned b}'  licr  for  tlie  United  Stales. 

English  privateer,  Thinks-I-to-Myself,  two  guns,  20 
men,  captured  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  and  taken  into 
tliat  port. 

Schooner  Britannia,  in  ballast,  commanded  by  Capt. 
Freeman,  late  of  the  privateer  Liverpool  Packet,  cap- 
tnred  by  the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Halifax  Packet,  from  Aberdeen  for  Halifax,  with 
a  valuable  cargo  of  dry-goods,  hardware,  and  sundries, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  divested  of  her  richest  arti- 
cles.    She  arrived  at  Portsmouth.  N".  H. 

The  Harpy  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H,,  and 
returned  there  after  a  cruise  of  twenty  days,  laden  with 
the  choicest  sjioils  of  the  foe,  and  sixty  prisoners.  She 
also  captured  the  transport  ship  Amazon,  G  guns,  18 
men,  an  elegant  vessel,  from  London  for  Halifax,  with 
a  cargo  of  provisions.  Also,  the  transport  ship  Budges, 
410  tons,  six  18-pound  carronades,  with  a  large  cargo 
of  rum,  brandy,  beef,  pork,  flour  and  bread — both  of 
which  were  manned  and  ordered  into  port.  Among  the 
prisoners  brought  in,  are  two  majors,  and  several  other 
20 


30G 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


fl8]; 


ofTiccrs.  Tlicsc  two  vessels  belonged  to  the  fleet  that 
lately  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  England.  The  prizes  of 
the  ITarpy,  may  be  moderately  valued  at  $400,000  to 
$500,000. 

Schooner  Prince  Regent,  380  bbls.  alewivei.  ;nd  a 
quantity  of  salmon,  sent  into  Portland  by  the  privateer 
Bash,  of  that  place. 

English  privateer  Retaliation,  5  guns,  20  men,  cap- 
tured near  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  by  the  sloop  Two 
Friends,  fitted  out  for  the  occasion,  and  manned  by  vol- 
unteers. By  good  management  she  was  taken  by  com- 
plete surprise,  and  carried  by  boarding,  without  re- 
sistance. 

Schooner  Two  Brothers,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by 
the  Mammoth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Uniza,  for  Merimachi,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the 
Mammoth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Sarah,  from  Cork  for  Merimachi,  with  GOO  bbls. 
of  flour,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Sir  Home  Popham,  with  fruit,  captured  by  the 
same  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Rapid,  from  Newfoundland  for  Lisbon,  with 
fish,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

Ship  Champion,  from  London  for  Quebec,  captured 
by  the  same,  divested  of  her  cargo,  worth  from  $80,000 
to  $100,000,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  disembarrass  the 
privateer  of  her  prisoners. 

Two  other  small  vessels,  taken  by  the  same,  and  des- 
troyed, names  not  recorded. 

The  Mammoth  also  captured  and  ordered  into  port, 
the  bark  Mary,  brigs  Alexander  and  Charlotte,  and  the 
ship  Mentor,  with  valuable  cargoes,  and  gave  up  the 
schooners  Thomas  and  Good  Intent,  and  brigs  Joseph  and 
Eliza.     She  made  in  all  21  prizes,  and  paroled  about 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


307 


300  prisoners.  The  privateer  arrived  at  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  full  of  rich  spoils  from  the  enemy. 

The  valuable  brig  Europa,  armed  with  8  eighteen- 
pound  carronades,  2  long-nines,  and  22  men,  with  175 
tons  of  sweet  oil,  etc.,  sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the 
Patapsco,  of  Baltimore.  She  was  from  Malta  for  London, 
before  she  was  cai)tured. 

Brig  Canada,  10  guns,  from  Bermuda,  laden  with 
300  puncheons  of  rum,  sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by 
the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore. 

The  English  brig  William  from  the  Coast  of  Africa, 
laden  with  194,087  pounds  of  gum,  estimated  to  be 
worth  fift}?^  or  sixty  thousand  dollars,  was  captured  and 
sent  into  Newbern,  N.  C,  by  a  Baltimore  privateer, 
whose  name  is  not  given. 

Ship  Ann  Dorothy,  cargo  of  hides  and  tallow,  sent  into 
Boston  by  the  Saratoga  of  New  York.  A  valuable  prize. 
This  vessel  was  captured  by  the  Saratoga,  recaptured  by 
the  Maidstone  frigate,  re-captured  by  the  David  Por- 
ter, and  is  now  satisfactorily  accounted  for.  Her  cargo 
afforded  a  clear  profit  to  the  captors  of  from  $100,000 
to  $120,000.     A  very  clever  affair. 

The  Saratoga  privateer  returned,  after  a  cruise  of  110 
days,  during  which  she  captured  :  schr.  Mary,  brig  Swift- 
sure,  schr.  James,  ship  Ann  Dorothy,  and  ship  Enter- 
prize,  all  of  which  were  manned  and  ordered  for  the 
United  States.  The  privateer  also  brought  into  port  a 
quantity  of  indigo,  ivory,  and  furs — aU  valuable  goods 
taken  from  the  enemy. 

The  privateer  Syren,  of  Baltimore,  returning  from  a 
cruise,  was  chased  off  New  York,  and  was  lost  on  mak- 
ing the  Delaware,  November  16th,  being  run  ashore  by 
the  pilot ;  where  she  was  attacked  by  three  barges,  from 
a  razee  at  anchor,  which  were  kept  at  bay  for  two  hours  ; 


308 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


but  finding  no  chance  of  escape,  the  privateer  was  set  on 
fire,  and  her  crew  (only  20  in  number,  with  6  prisoners 
in  charge),  reached  the  New  Jersey  shore  in  safety.  One 
of  the  enemy's  barges  is  said  to  have  sunk.  The  Syren 
captured  and  manned  several  valuable  vessels. 

Brig  Hiram,  from  Liverpool,  last  from  Coi'k,  with  a 
convoy  from  which  she  separated  in  a  gale,  bound  for  8t. 
Johns,  with  a  cargo  of  dry-goods,  crockery,  cordage, 
etc.,  captured  by  the  David  Porter,  of  Boston,  divested 
of  goods  to  the  value  of  $100,000,  and  given  up. 

The  David  Porter  arrived  at  Boston,  with  her  I'ich 
spoils,  after  a  cruise  of  only  15  days,  during  which  she 
captured  the  Ilyram  and  two  brigs,  which  she  ordered 
into  port. 

Brigs  Susan  and  James,  and  schooner  Retrieve,  ca})- 
tured  by  the  Fox  of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Concord,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  car- 
tel of,  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Cossack,  laden  with  wine,  sent  into  Boston,  by 
the  Surprise  of  Baltimore.  This  vessel  had  been  cap- 
tured by  the  Grand  Turk  of  Salem,  re-captured  by  the 
Bulwark  74,  and  re-taken  by  the  Surprise. 

Schooner  Pink,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and 
sunk. 

Brig  Brothers,  from  St.  Johns  for  Liverpool,  with  lum- 
ber, captured  by  the  same,  and  sunk. 

Brig  Belgrade  from  Malta,  for  Falmouth,  captured 
by  the  same,  divested  of  some  guns,  etc.  and  permitted 
to  proceed. 

Brig  Robert  Stewart,  with  lumber,  taken  by  the  same 
and  burnt. 

Schooner  Commerce,  laden  with  fish,  captured  and  de- 
stroyed by  the  same. 

The  Grand  Turk  arrived  at  Salem,  after  a  cruise  of 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRlVATEEKS. 


309 


103  days,  witli  li  of  her  ori-inul  crow  (the   nvst  bciu- 
on  board  lior  prizes),  and  fifty  prisoners.  ° 

Beside  the  above,  she  captured  seven  or  eight  other 
vessels,  one  with  an  invoice  of  £30,000,  stcrhng,  all  of 
which  were  manned  and  ordered  for  United  Statc4.  The 
Grand  Turk  had  on  board  goods  to  the  value  of 
$20,000. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  Halifax,  with  mackerel,  captured 
)jy  the  Surprise  and  sunk. 

Schooner  Bird,  from  Newfoundland  for  the  West  In- 
dies, with  fish,  captured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  and  sent 
into  Salem. 

Ship  Ocean,  380  tons,  of  and  for  London,  laden  with 
a  cargo  of  masts,  35  bowsprits  for  men-of-war,  and  a 
quantity  of  timber  and  lumber,  sent  into  Salem'  by  the 
General  Putnam,  of  Salem.  This  privateer  was  subse- 
quently captured  by  the  English. 

Schooner  Georgiana,  from  Martinico,  for  Newfound- 
land, with  rum  and  sugar,  sent  into  port  by  the  Grand  Turk. 

Sloop   ,    captured  by  the    Scorpion    of    Salem," 

mounting  one  gun,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Schooner ,  taken  by  the  same  and  destroyed. 

Schooners  Eugene  and  Stinger,  captured  by  the 
Midas,  of  Baltimore,  divested  and  destroyed. 

Schooner  Betsey  and  Jane,  from  St.  Johns,  for 
Castino,  with  one  hundred  and  nineteen  packages  of  dry- 
goods,  valued  at  $150,000,  brought  into  Thomastown 
by  the  Cadet,  of  Salem. 

Brig  ,  haden  with  fish,  sent   into  port  by  the 

letter-of-marque,  Jonquille,  of  New  York. 

Sloop ,  from  St.  Lucia,  captured  by  the  Saucy 

Jack,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Schooner ,  taken  by  the  same,  divested  and  given 

up;  being  of  little  value. 


310 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[181,'5. 


Scliooiier  Kingston,  packet,  captured  by  tlie  same,  and 
made  a  tender  of. 

Sloop  CyruH,  captiu'ed  })y  said  tender,  and  burnt. 

Sloop  Jane,  with  ])rovisions,  captiu-ed  by  the  Saucy 
Jack,  divested  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Ship  Amelia,  four  long  guns,  and  eight  12  pound 
carronades,  with  a  rich  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by 
the  Saucy  Jack,  after  a  severe  engagement  of  an  hour. 
The  privateer  had  one  killed  and  one  wounded  ;  the 
Amelia,  four  killed  and  five  wounded. 

The  Saucy  Jack  aLs\)  captured  on  this  cruise  the 
British  schooner  Weasel,  laden  with  provisions,  and  sent 
her  into  St.  Mary's. 

Schooner  Jane,  from  Jamaica,  bound  for  St.  Johns, 
Newfoundland,  laden  with  rum  and  sugar,  was  also 
captured  by  the  Saucy  Jack,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 
The  privateer  had  arrived  with  a  full  cargo  of  Brit- 
ish goods  valued  at  $15,000,  taken  out  of  her  prize — the 
Ameha. 

A  BOLD  DASH,  BUT  WI'niOUT  SUCCESS. 

The  little  privateer  Saucy  Jack,  of  Charleston,  while 
cruising  off  Cape  Tibcron  (west  end  of  St.  Domingo), 
on  the  3 1st  of  October,  with  her  little  tender  called  the 
Packet  in  company,  at  1  A.  M.  saw  two  ships  standing 
to  the  westward,  gave  chase,  and  at  2  a.  m.,  being  within 
gun-shot,  fired  three  shots  at  them  from  our  long  gun, 
on  which  one  of  the  ships  returned  the  fire,  and  both  imnie- 
diatel}''  shortened  sail.  At  C  a.  m.,  being  within  half 
gun-shot  of  them,  we  found  that  one  mounted  16  and  the 
other  18  guns,  but  did  not  appear  to  be  well  mamiecl. 
At  7  A.  M.  hoisted  the  colors,  and  began  the  engagement 
with  the  nearest  ship  ;  at  ten  minutes  past  7  boarded 
her  on  the  larboard  beam,  and  then  found  her  to  be  full 


1815.] 


Till-;    AMKIUCAN    I'UIVATLLRS. 


:ui 


of  soldiers.  The  Saucy  Jack,  on  perceiving  lliis,  iiumo- 
(liatcly  sheered  oH",  wlicii  tlie  two  slii})s  continued  to 
chase  her  until  a  quarter  before  8  o'clock,  pouring  in  at 
the  time  a  constant  (ire  of  grape  and  musketry  ;  it  was 
8  o'clock  before  the  schooner  got  out  of  reach  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  In  tliis  engagement  the  Saucy  Jack  had 
eight  men  killed,  and  fifteen  wounded  ;  received  two 
balls  in  her  hull,  and  her  spars  and  rigging  were  very 
nmch  cut  up. 

ENGLTSH  A(.'C0UNT  OF  'J'lIE  SAME  ACTION. 

''Kingston,  Jamaica,  Nov.  2d. — Yesterday  morning,  tlie 
Volcano,  bomb-ship.  Captain  Price,  and  transport  ship 
Golden  Fleece,  from  the  Chesapeake,  having  on  board 
250  troops,  appeared  in  the  offing,  but  from  the  l)aniing 
winds  were  not  enabled  to  reach  Pcu't  Royal,  at  the  time 
this  paper  was  put  to  press. 

"  On  Sunday  night,  about  12  o'clock,  offXavassa  Island, 
the  Volcano  perceived  a  schooner  standhig  towards  her, 
which  fired  several  shot,  which  were  returned.  The 
Volcano  shortened  sail,  in  order  that  the  schooner  might 
approach  her.  At  about  eight  o'clock  tlie  following 
morning,  she  was  ascertained  to  be  a  large  black  vessel, 
with  white  streaks  ;  she  ran  alongside,  and  attempted 
to  board,  but  finding  tlie  Volcano  was  not  a  merchant- 
man, she  endeavored  to  sheer  off,  at  which  time  several 
volleys  of  musketry  and  great  guns  w^ere  discharged  at 
her,  that  swept  her  deck,  and  killed  most  of  those  who 
endeavored  to  board,  when  the  remainder  w^ere  seen  to 
run  below.  The  Volcano  then  chased  her  for  three 
miles,  but  perceiving  no  probability  of  coming  up  with 
her,  relinquished  the  pursuit.  During  the  contest  a 
very  enterprising  officer  of  the  marine-artillery,  lieuten- 
ant W.  P.  Futzen,  and  two  seamen  were  killed,  and  two 


r>i2 


THK    AMKinCAN    riUVATKKUS. 


f  181.0. 


men  womwlcd.  The  priviiteer  had  in  conii)any  a  Bala- 
hoo  HC'liooncr,  "wliicli  did  not  attempt  to  all'ord  her  any 
assistance  ;  she  mounted  six  carriage  gmis,  and  one  on  a 
pivot,  and  was  full  of  men." 


'  PRIZES  CArrUIlKD  BY   PRIVA'reERS. 

Brig  Louisa,  laden  with  salt  and  tin,  captured  by  the 
Macedonian  of  Portsmouth,  divested  of  the  tin,  and 
Lurnt. 

English  brig  Ih'itannia,  from  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  for 
Liverpool,  laden  with  195  tons  of  ship  timber,  and 
sundry  other  articles  was  captured  by  the  Macedonian, 
and  burnt. 

The  Macedonian  also  captured  the  British  ship  Sir 
Edwi»rd  Pellew,  burthen  vi07  tons,  2  guns,  and  19  men. 
She  was  in  ballast,  and  not  worth  sending  into  port,  the 
privateer  destroyed  her. 

The  Macedonian  also  captured  three  other  British 
vessels  on  this  cruise,  two  of  them  she  manned  and  or- 
dered into  the  United  States.  The  other,  the  schooner 
Mariner,  laden  with  fish,  being  of  little  value,  was 
made  a  cartel  of,  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  pri- 
soners. 

The  Macedonian  was  at  sea  only  twenty  days  ;  having 
carried  away  her  bowsprit  in  a  severe  gale  of  wind,  she 
was  obliged  to  return  home  to  Portsmouth  to  refit ;  she 
however  made  several  prizes,  and  brought  into  port  22 
prisoners. 

The  British  schooner ,  laden  with  codfish,  was 

captured  by  the  Baltimore  privateer  Resolution,   and 
sent  into  Charleston,  S.  C. 

A  Schooner,  laden  with  salt,  name  not  reported,  was 
captured  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent 
into  Ocracock,  N.  C. 


ISIo.J 


TllK     A.Mi;UI('.\N     I'UIVATKKUS. 


313 


Tlio  Britisli  scliooiior  ll{iziir<l,  from  Jlnlil'iix,  bound  for 
Amiapolis,  Nova  Scotia,  liuloii  witli  West  India  jiroduco, 
and  a  ((uantity  of  En<:;]isli  ^i^oods  of  oonsiderahlo  value, 
was  t'aplurt'd  by  tlic  Surprise,  of  Baltimore,  and  after 
divesting  bcr  of  the  most  vahuible  part  of  her  cargo,  des- 
troyed lier. 


A  SllOlir  AXI)  VKFIV  SU(HJESSKlJr.  i^UUISI'],  MAUK  BY  TIIH  inaVA'rKKIl 
SCHOONKIl  KVMV,  OF  HAlTIMOllE,  UNDKIl  TIIK  COMMAND  OF 
CAPTAIN  JACOBS. 

Tlic  Kemp  sailed  from  Wilininglon,  X.  C,  on  a  cruise 
to  the  West  Indies,  November  2l)th,  181 1. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  at  8  i*.  m.,  two  (hiys  after 
leavuig  port,  while  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  she  descried  a 
small  fleet  of  merchant  ships,  and  made  sail  in  chase. 
At  12  meridian,  got  near  enough  to  ascertain  they  were 
eight  in  number,  and  under  convoy  of  a  frigate.  They 
were  then  in  lat.  32°  32'  N.,  long, '^77°  0'  W. 

Soon  after  noon,  the  frigate  gave  chase  to  the 
schooner  and  drove  her  away  from  the  fleet.  Cai)tain 
Jacobs  made  short  tacks  to  windward,  and  drew  the 
frigate  away  from  his  convoy,  in  pursuit  of  the 
Kemp. 

During  the  night,  the  privateer  dodged  the  frigate, 
and  saw  no  more  of  her. 

Early  next  morning,  she  steered  to  the  eastward,  in 
pursuit  of  the  fleet. 

She  soon  discovered  them  again,  bearing  N.N.E.  on 
the  weather  beam,  the  wind  being  north. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  at  11  o'ebck  in  the  forenoon, 
the  Kemp  drew  near  the  fleet,  which  consisted  of  three 
ships,  three  brigs  and  two  schooners — all  draw^i  up  in  a 
line  prepared  for  action. 

At  2  P.M.  they  bore  away  for  the  privateer,  and,  as 


314 


Tlir;    AMKIilCAN    I'ltIVATi:i;HS. 


fl8l5. 


thoy  respect ivoly  |i!isHeil,  eoiiiineueed  firin;;  upon  her  in 
rotation.  Siu?  reservetl  lier  lire,  and  tacked.  While 
passing  lln'oM;:;li  tlieir  line,  she  opened  her  wliole  arnia- 
nienl  upon  (lie  enemy,  whieii  soon  tlirew  them  into  con- 
fusion. 

At  liail'-past  2  P.  M.,  she  boarded  one  of  the  briga  and 
oai)tiM'ed  her  without  loss,  except  one  (seaman  bein^^ 
wounded. 

Tlie  wlioK?  ol'  the  enemy's  vessels  continued  to  fire 
upon  tlje  Keni])  with  considerabh;  spirit,  wdiich  was  as 
warndy  returned. 

At  .')  I'M.,  Cell  on  board  the  shi})  Rosabella,  when  Mr. 
Myers,  first  lieutenant,  with  Mr.  Sellers,  sailing-master, 
and  eight  seamen,  succeeded  in  capturing  her,  without 
loss  on  the  part  of  the  privateer.  Tl-^'ce  men  wore 
wounded  on  board  the  Rosabella.''' 

When  in  the  act  of  boarding  one  of  the  schooners,  she 
struck,  and  cried  out  for  quarters. 

The  privateer  then  attacked  the  largest  of  the  brigs, 
and,  after  a  contest  of  fifteen  or  twenty  mhmtes,  she 
also  surrendered  ;  thus  augmenting  the  number  of  prizes 
to  four  out  of  the  eight  vessels  which,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  action  com})rized  the  fleet. 

As  the  privateer   could  uot  conveniently  spare  from 

her  crew  a  sulBcicnt  lunnbcr  to  man  any  more  prizes,  she 

was  obliged  to  let  the  residue  of  the  enemy's  vessels  pro- 
coed  on  their  voyage. 

On  this  cruise  the  Kemp  made  seventy-one  prisoners. 


*  The  ship  Rooabella,  prize  to  the  Kemp,  was  an  excellent  vessel,  of  2G1 
tons  burthen,  with  a  full  cargo  of  sugar  and  coffee.  She  was  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed to  Charleston,  but  unfortunately  on  entering  the  port,  she  grounded  on 
the  bar,  and  was  totally  lost.  This  vessel  and  her  cargo  were  estimated  at 
$300,000.  The  wreck  of  this  vessel  was  finally  burnt  by  a  British  man-of- 
war  brig. 


[1815. 

poll  lu'V  ill 
,1.  While 
liolo  iinnii- 
i  into  c!on- 

2  brigs  niid 
iniiu  being 

110(1   to  fire 
lich  was  as 

1,  when  Mr. 

liug-nuiHter, 

iier,  without 

men  were 

ihooncrs,  fhc 

)f  the  hrigH, 
minutes,  she 
her  of  prizes 

3  coninience- 

spare  from 
L'C  prizes,  she 

vessels  pro- 
ne prisoners, 


ent  vessel,  of  2G1 
■as  ordered  to  pro- 
,  she  grounded  on 
■were  estimated  at 
a  British  nian-of- 


IbLO.J 


Tin;    .VMKlilCA.V    rUIVATKKUS, 


816 


fifly-tliroc  of  whom  slie  hr()ii;;li(  into  port.  Tlio  rwmaiii- 
dor  were  left  on  hoard  the  j)rizeH. 

Tlie  u<ij;;rogale  foroo  of  the  enemy  was  10  guns  and 
l.'M  men. 

The  Kem})  liad  one  man  (John  Trwiii)  kiUed.  J-'our 
who  were  wounded  .soon  reeovcriMl. 

Tlie  i)rizes  wore  vahiahlo  ves.sel.s,  hiden  mostly  witli 
sugar  and  eolVoe. 

They  were  all  sent  into  Charleston,  Wilmington,  and 
other  southern  })orls. 

This  eruise  only  lasted  six  days,  hut  was  a  very  profit- 
able one  for  the  ca[)tors,  and  all  others  eoneerned  in  the 
fortunate  schooner  Kemp  and  her  gallant  captain,  olli- 
ccrs  and  crew. 

PIlI/iKS  (lAr'TUIlKI)  liV  ITlIVATKHiLS. 

Brig  Courtney,  200  tons,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  sent 
into  Fairhaven,  by  the  Yankee,  of  liristol,  11.  I.  The 
invoice  of  this  vessel  amounted  to  $200,000. 

Hchooner  Polly,  from  Halifax,  for  ^rartini([iie,  with 
fish,  sent  into  Boston  by  the  Dash,  of  Portland. 

Schooner  Swift,  laden  with  lish  and  lumber,  from  St. 
Johns,  for  Granada,  captured    by  the  Exi)edition,    of 

Baltimore,  and  sent  into .     The   Expedition   had 

taken  three  other  prizes. 

Ship  L'Aimable,  from  Havana,  under  Spanish  colors, 
sent  into  Wilmington,  N.  C,  by  the  Roger,  of  Norfolk  ; 
cargo,  sugar. 

Schooner ,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  sent  into  Beau- 
fort, by  the  Hero,  of  Xewbern. 

Schooner  Mary,  from  St.  Johns,  for  Castino,  with  a 
rich  cargo  of  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  Cadet,  of  Sa- 
lem ;  divested,  manned,  and  arrived  in  port.  The  pri- 
vateer safely  arrived,  with  her  rich  spoils,  at  Thomas- 


310 


Till:    AMKIilCAN   PRIVATEERS, 


[1815 


town.  This  prize  was  under  convoy  of  an  armed 
schooner,  with  whomlhe  privateer  Charles  Stewart  had 
a  fight,  but  seeing  the  Cumberland  priA  ateer  coming  up, 
and  supposing  she  might  bo  a  British  vessel,  the  Charles 
Stewart  sheered  off.  The  Cumberland  engaged  the 
Englishman,  and  was  beaten  off,  with  the  loss  of  one 
killed  and  one  wounded  ;  but  the  convoyed  schooner 
(the  Mary)  was  afterwards  taken,  and  served  as  above 
srted,  by  the  Cadet. 

AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS  IN  THE  EAJT  INDIES. 

London,  November  2Qth. — The  East  India  Company's 
ship  Adele,  has  been  captured  by  la  American  priva- 
teer off  Pontana.  Other  privateers  were  cruising  olF 
the  coast  of  Sumatra. 

We  learn  by  the  news  froni  Batavia,  July  27th,  1815, 
that  an  embargo  was  laid  by  the  government,  to  prevent 
merchant  ships  from  falhng  into  the  hands  of  American 
privateers,  who  had  captured  many  vessels  in  that  neigh- 
borhood, and  also  on  the  coast  of  Sumatra. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

The  Harpy  privateer  had  recently  arrived  at  Salem, 
after  a  very  successful  cruise.  She  reports  that  the 
United  States  ship  Wasp  was  off  the  Canaries,  doing 
a  great  business  among  the  English  merchant  ships. 

Schooner  St.  John,  with  coffee,  captured  by  the  letter- 
of-marque  Jonquil,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Jaquemel, 
where  she  was  ransomed. 

Schooner  ,  captured  by  the  same,  divested,  and 

made  a  cartel  of. 

Brig  Greneral  Maitland,  from  Martinique,  for  Ber- 
muda, with  rum  and  sugar,  captured  by  the  Dash,  di- 
vested of  part  of  her  cargo  ai  d  ordered  into  port ;  ar- 
rived at  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


[1815 


1815.] 


THE    AMEUJCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


317 


an  armed 
Lewart  had 
joining  up, 
tlic  Charles 
igaged  the 
loss  of  one 
d  schooner 
d  as  above 


ES. 

,  Oompany's 
•ican  priva- 
cruising  oil' 

27th,  1815, 
b,  to  prevent 
of  American 
ri  that  neigh- 


ed at  Salem, 
)rts  that  the 
iiaries,  doing 
at  ships, 
by  the  letter- 
ito  Jaquemel, 

divested,  and 

ue,  for  Ber- 
the  Dash,  di- 
nto  port ;  ar- 


Sloop  Mary,  for  Bermuda,  with  a  variety  of  Brit- 
ish goods,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  Dash  safely  reached  Portland,  laden  with  various 
articles,  worth  from  $40,000  to  $50,000. 

Schooner ,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  from  Halifax, 

for  Castillo,  taken  by  the  Fame,  of  Tlionuistown,  and  sent 
into  that  port. 

Sloop  Eliza,  captured  by  the  Caroline,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Mariner,  dry-goods,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  privateer  schooner  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  cap- 
tured the  British  brig  Stephen,  14  guns  and  30  men, 
from  St.  Thomas,  bound  for  Curacoa,  laden  with  fine 
English  goods.  After  taking  out  all  the  valuable  part 
of  the  cargo,  the  privateer  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners. 
The  Caroline  subsequently  arrived  safe  at  Wilmington, 
N.  C,  with  a  full  cargo  of  valuable  British  goods. 

Sloop  Trinidad,  with  coffee,  liidcs  and  logwood, 
captured  by  the  letter-of-marque.  Jonquil,  divested  and 
burnt. 

The  Jonquil  arrived  at  Beaufort,  with  a  valuable  car- 
go, nine  days  from  Port-au-Prince. 

Brig  Equity,  from  Greenock,  for  Quebec,  laden  with 
an  assorted  cargo,  taken  by  the  Orlando,  of  Gloucester, 
and  sent  into  Boston. 

Brig  Lord  Wellington,  from  Halifax,  for  Havana,  cap- 
tured by  the  letter-of-marque  Diamond,  of  Baltimore, 
on  her  voyage  from  Havana  to  New  York.  The  Dia- 
mond gave  up  Iicr  prize  to  the  crew  and  some  Spanish 
passengers,  and  let  her  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

Brig  Margaret,  from  Lisbon,  for  England,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  Lisbon  wine,  captured  off  th^  British 
coast,  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia,  and  sent 
into  \.hat  port. 


318 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[I8I0. 


Ship  Tlero,  of  010  tons,  14  guns  and  27  men,  from 
Halifax,  for  Jamaica,  ladcrn  with  fish  and  Imnber,  cap- 
tured by  the  Ino,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  that  port. 
The  Hero  struck  without  firing  a  gun. 

Schooner  Nancy,  from  Poole,  for  Newfoundland,  250 
tens,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  bale  goods,  i)rovisions, 
etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  partially  divested  of  her  rich- 
est goods,  and  ordered  into  port. 

Ketch  Caroline,  under  Danish  colors,  from  London  to 
Lisbon,  taken  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  quantity  of  dry- 
goods,  as  British  property,  and  allowed  to  proceed  on 
her  voyage. 

Brig  Susannah,  from  St.  Andrews  for  Barbadoes, 
with  lumber,  captured  by  the  Amelia,  and  made  a  car- 
tel of. 

British  schooner  Mary,  formerly  the  Climax,  of  Bal- 
timore, 16  guns  and  12  men,  captured  by  the  same,  af- 
ter a  long  chase,  and  sent  into  Philadelphia. 

British  brig  Pallas,  formerly  the  French  privateer 
Sans  Souci,  8  guns,  21  men,  with  a  cargo  of  fish,  cap- 
tured by  the  same  privateer,  after  an  action  of  twenty 
minutos,  and  sent  into  Philadelphia. 

The  privateer  Amelia  of  Baltimore,  arrived  safe  at 
Philadelphia,  in  April,  1815,  with  a  full  cargo  of  valu- 
able goods,  taken  from  the  enemy.  During  her  cruise 
she  captured  ten  British  vessels  ;  some  she  destroyed, 
some  she  ordered  into  port,  and  one  she  gave  up  as  a 
cartel  for  her  prisoners.  During  the  cruise  she  put  into 
L'Orient,  where  her  captain  and  officers  were  well  re- 
ceived, and  treated  politely  by  the  public  authorities  of 
that  place.  On  her  return  home  she  touched  at  St. 
Barts,  for  a  supply  of  water.  The  governor  would  not 
allow  her  any  supplies,  but,  on  the  contrary,  ordered 
her  captain  to  leave  the  Island  forthwith.     The  Amelia 


[  1815. 

men,  from 
mbcr,  cap- 
that  port. 

tdland,  250 
provisions, 
of  her  rich- 

i  London  to 
itity  of  dry- 
proceed  on 

Barbadoes, 
made  a  car- 

nax,  of  Bal- 
he  same,  af- 

1. 

ich  privateer 
of  fish,  cap- 
n  of  twenty 

l-rived  safe  at 
argo  of  valu- 
ig  her  cruise 
le  destroyed, 
Igave  up  as  a 
she  put  into 
rere  well  rc- 
buthorities  of 
uched  at  St. 
or  would  not 
Irary,  ordered 
The  Amelia 


1815.] 


THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEEH.^. 


810 


carried  but  G  guns,  and  seventy  five  men.  The  captur- 
ed vessels  amounted  to  2,270  tons,  112  prisoners,  and 
32  carriage  guns.  She  was  frequently  chased  by  tho 
enemy,  and  once  for  fifty-three  hours,  but  was  fortunate 
enough  to  evade  all  her  jmrsuers,  and  finally  made  an 
excellent  cruise. 

The  East  India  ship  General  Wellesley,  IG  guns,  86 
men,  500  tons,  coppered,  and  found  in  the  best  manner, 
with^  valuable  cargo  of  18,000  bars  of  iron,  etc.,  Cic, 
outward  bound,  namely,  for  Calcutta,  separated  from  her 
convoy,  and  was  captured  by  the  privateer  Yankee, 
after  a  running  fight.  She  was  manned  and  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Charleston,  but  unfortunately,  while  entering 
that  port,  she  was  lost  on  the  bar.  Tier  original  crew 
consisted  of  36  Englishmen,  50  Lascars,  all  of  whom 
were  drowned,  but  seven.  Two  of  the  prize  crow  were 
also  lost ;  the  Yankee  was  left  iu  pursuit  of  a  fleet  of 
twenty  sail.  This  valuable  ship  beirg  wrecked  on 
the  bar,  was  doubtless  a  great  disappointment  to  her 
captors, 

British  brig ,  170  tons,  a  valuable  vessel,  from 

Castine  for  Jamaica,  laden  with  fish  and  lumber,  brought 
into ,  by  the  Paul  Jones. 

Cutter  Eliza  and  Peggy,  from  Malaga  for  London, 
with  fruit,  captured  by  the  Lawrence  of  Baltimore,  di- 
vested of  part  of  her  cargo,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get 
rid  of  prisoners. 

Cutter  Dart,  with  a  cargo  of  wine,  raisins,  etc.,  from 
Malaga,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  portion  of 
her  cargo,  and  burnt. 

Ship  Christian,  from  Faro  for  London,  with  a  full 
cargo,  taken  by  the  same  privateer,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Atalanta,  from  Halifax  for  Martinique,  with 
fish,  taken  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 


320 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


The  privateer  Lawrence,  arrived  at  New  York  on  the 
25th  of  January.  Durin<;-  her  cruise,  she  took  13  prizes, 
eight  of  which  were  manned  ;  some  of  them  very  valuable. 
One  vessel  she  gave  up  to  the  prisoners  as  a  cartel.  She 
made  lOG  prisoners,  but  brought  in  only  15.  Her  prizes 
in  the  aggregate  amounted  to  more  than  3,000  tons. 
She  also  brought  in  a  quantity  of  English  goods. 

British  brig  Lord  AVellington,  with  fish  and  lum- 
ber, captured  by  the  Expedition,  of  Baltimore,  and 
burnt. 

English  ^chooner  Goldfinder  (formerly  belonged  to 
New  York),  with  salt,  captur^'d  by  the  Young  Wasp,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  sent  into  Elizabeth  City,  N.  C. 

A  transport,  with  250  troops,  from  Halifax  for  Cas- 
tine,  chased  ashore  near  the  latter  place  by  three  priva- 
teers, and  lost.  The  troops,  however,  got  safely  to  land, 
and  marched  to  Castine. 

Sloop  Governor  Hodgdon,  with  a  few  cases  of  English 
goods  and  hats,  some  cordage,  white  lead,  etc.,  captured 
by  the  Dash,  of  Portland,  divested,  and  given  up  to  the 
prisoners. 

Brig  Only  Son,  from  Barbadoes  for  St.  Johns,  with 
rum,  sugar  and  shrub,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
given  up. 

English  brig ,  laden  with  provisions  for  the  English 

army,  captured  near  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  where 
she  had  grounded.  She  was  then  captured  by  a  priva- 
teer and  burnt. 

Ship  Jane,  from  Merimachi,  laden  with  lumber,  cap- 
tured and  burnt  by  the  Harpy,  of  Baltimore. 

Brig  William  Neilson,  of  Liverpool,  from  Quebec, 
with  a  number  of  passengers,  and  a  cargo  of  lumber, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  disem- 
barrass her  of  her  prisoners. 


[1815. 

ork  on  the 
13  prizes, 
y  valuable, 
irtel.  Slie 
Her  prizes 
J^OOO  tons, 
ods. 

and   lum- 
;imore,  and 

belonged  to 
ig  Wasp,  of 

fax  for  Cas- 
three  priva- 
ifely  to  land, 

les  of  English 
stc,  captured 
en  up  to  the 

Johns,  with 
same,  and 

,r  the  English 

lissippi,  where 

d  by  a  priva- 

lumber,  cap- 
Ire. 

Ifrom  Quebec, 
1:0  of  lumber, 

of,  to  disem- 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


321 


English  schooner  Nine  Sisters,  from  Lisbon  for  Liver- 
pool, with  a  cargo  of  fruit,  captured  by  the  same  and 
burnt. 

British  brig  Louisa,  from  Gibraltar  for  Greenock,  with 
a  cargo  of  wine,  figs,  raisins,  etc.,  was  also  captui'ed  by 
the  Harpy,  divested  of  part  of  her  goods,  and  manned 
for  the  United  States. 

LOSS  OF  THE   PRIVATEER-BRIG  ARROW,  CAPTAIN  CONKLIN,  OF 

NEW  YORK. 

It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  herewith  record  the 
total  loss  of  the  beautiful  privateer-brig  Arrow.  She 
sailed  from  New  York  the  14th  January,  1815,  on  a 
cruise  to  the  West  Indies.  She  mounted  14  guns,  and 
had  a  complement  of  150  men.  She  was  well  equipped 
and  supplied  with  everything  necessary  for  a  long  cruise, 
but,  sad  to  relate,  no  tidings  were  ever  received  from 
this  vessel  after  she  left  port.  She  being  heavily 
sparred,  it  was  conjectured  that  she  was  capsized  at 
sea,  or  run  under  while  chased  by  an  enemy. 

SUCCESS  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HARPY. 

English  ship  William  and  Alfred,  from  London,  for 
Antigua,  with  dry-goods  and  plantation  utensils,  was 
captured  by  the  Harpy,  divested  of  her  dry-goods, 
manned,  and  ordered  for  the  United  States. 

Ship  Jane,  from  London,  for  Antigua,  laden  with  pro- 
visions for  government  account,  captured  by  the  same. 
After  taking  out  a  portion  of  her  cargo,  and  destroying: 
the  remainder,  gave  her  up  to  the  prisoners  to  proceed 
to  a  British  port  as  a  cartel. 

The  Harpy  also  captured  the  valuable  ship  Garland, 
with  a  full  cargo  of  rum  and  sugar,  which  ship  arrived 
at  Salem. 

21 


322 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


ri816 


The  Ilarpy  arrived  at  Salem  in  April,  1815.  She  had 
on  board  a  valuable  cargo  of  rich  merchandize  of  every 
description,  taken  from  several  of  her  prizes,  made  while 
cruising  on  the  coast  of  England,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay, 
and  along  the  coasts  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  Here  fol- 
lows a  memorandum  of  the  goods,  namely,  118  boxes 
and  trunks,  and  11 G  hhds.  and  casks  of  dry-goods,  jew- 
elry, plate,  ladies'  rich  dresses,  navy  trimmings,  rich 
clothing,  etc.,  330  boxes  fresh  Malaga  raisins,  66  frails 
fresh  Turkey  fig»,  158  pieces  British  manufactured  goods, 
29  bolts  of  canvas,  a  quantity  of  cordage,  10  pipes  of 
sherry  wine,  3  bbls.  of  powder,  carronades,  muskets, 
pistols,  cutlasses,  sails,  signal  flags,  lamp  and  paint  oil, 
white  and  patent  sheet  lead,  nautical  instruments,  cut 
and  other  glass,  medicines,  and  sundry  other  articles  ; 
also,  upward  of  £100,000,  sterling,  in  British  Treasury 
notes  and  bills  of  exchange. 

She  was  frequently  chased,  but  escaped  with  ease. 
She  was  at  sea  85  days,  and  cruised  off  the  coast  of  Ire- 
land, in  the  British  Channel,  Bay  of  Biscay,  etc.  She 
was  a  noble  vessel  of  349  tons,  carrj/ing  14  heavy  guns, 
and  about  100  men.  The  following  honorable  acknow- 
ledgments of  the  kind  treatment  of  Capt.  Nichols,  of  the 
Harpy,  to  his  prisoners,  deserves  record  : 


"  Capt.  William  Drysdale,  late  of  the  ship  William 
and  Alfred,  captured  the  2d  January,  1815,  by  the  brig 
Harpy,  returns  his  grateful  acknowledgment  to  William 
Nichols,  Esq.,  commander  of  the  said  brig,  and  all  his 
officers,  for  their  great  civility,  indulgent  lenity,  and  hu- 
mane usage,  while  on  board,  and  generously  delivering 
up  all  his  private  property.  And  should,  at  any  future 
time,  Captain  Nichols  or  any  of  his  officers  come  to  Lon- 
don, Captain  D.  will  be  happy  to  see  them  at  his  house, 


fl816 

She  hatl 
3  of  every 
nade  while 
of  Biscay, 
Here  fol- 
118  boxes 
roods,  jew- 
nings,  rich 
18,  66  frails 
ured  goods, 
.0  pipes  of 
3,  muskets, 
d  paint  oil, 
uments,  cut 
er  articles ; 
sh  Treasury 

i  with  ease, 
coast  of  Ire- 
etc.  She 
heavy  guns, 
Die  acknow- 
ichols,  of  the 


hip  William 
,  by  the  brig 
t  to  'William 
and  all  his 
snity,  andhu- 
sly  delivering 
at  any  future 
come  to  Lon- 
at  his  house, 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


323 


Stepney  Green,  near  London.  Given  under  my  hand, 
on  board  the  Harpy,  at  sea,  this  day,  6th  of  January, 
1815. 

"WILLIAM  DRYSDALB, 

Tjate  Captain  of  the  Ship  William  and  Alfred." 

"We,  the  undersigned,  feeling  congenial  sentiments 
with  Captain  Drysdale,  toward  Captain  Nichols,  Lieu- 
tenant Place  and  the  officers  on  board  the  Harpy  ;  and 
desirous  that  such  humanity  and  goodness  may  be  made 
public,  as  well  in  the  LTnited  States  as  in  England,  declare 
that  oifr  treatment  is  worthy  of  every  praise  and  enco- 
mium ;  and  that  all  our  private  property  has  been  held 
sacred  to  us,  and  a  cartel  fitted  for  us  as  early  as  cir- 
cumstances would  permit. 

"  Geo.  Harrison, 

"W.  Newell, 

"J.  W.  Hall 

'•  Andrew  McCarthy. 

Late  Masters  of  "Vessels  taken  by  the  Harpy." 
PRIZES.  CAPITTRED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Courtney,  from  London,  for  Rio  Janeiro,  with 
dry-goods,  copper,  etc.,  captured  by  the  Yankee, 
divested  of  her  richest  articles  and  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

Ship  St.  Andrew,  8  guns,  from  London  for  TenerifFe, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  the  United  States. 

Brig  Speculator,  captured  by  the  Yankee,  and  made 
a  cartel  of,  to  disembarrass  her  of  her  prisoners. 

Brig  Patriot,  from  Prince  Edward's  Island,  with 
timber,  sent  into  Charleston  by  the  Brutus  of  Boston. 

Brig  Dantzic,  sent  into  an  eastern  port,  by  the  Paul 
Jones,  of  New  York. 


324 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


Brig  Peter,  from  Mcssitia,  for  London,  a  very  valuable 
vessel,  sent  into  North  Carolina  by  the  Lawrence,  of 
Baltimore ;  she  had  a  full  cargo  of  vahiable  mer- 
chandise. 

Brig  John,  from  Liverpool  for  Leghorn,  with  a  cargo 
of  dry-goods  and  hardware,  captured  by  the  Perry  of 
Baltimore,  divested  of  many  valuable  articles  ;  manned, 
and  ordered  into  any  port  in  the  United  States. 

Brig  Nancy,  from  Malaga,  for  London,  with  fruit, 
captured  by  the  same  and  made  a  cartel  of. 

The  Perry  arrived  in  the  Delaware  about  the  1st  of 
Feb.,  with  a  full  cargo  of  chosen  spoils,  after  having  made 
a  capital  cruise.  She  was  chased  some  eight  or  ten  times 
by  brigs,  sloops-of-war,  frigates,  and  razees,  but  laughed 
at  them  all ;  except  once,  when  close  in  on  the  coast,  she 
had  to  receive  the  fire  of  a  razee,  from  which  she  escap- 
ed, though  much  cut  up  in  her  hull  and  sails.  She  was 
so  close  that  the  shot  from  the  ship  frequently  reached 
her,  but  though  so  hardly  pressed,  she  finally  escaped. 

The  three  masted   schooner  ,  captured  by  the 

Warrior,  of  New  York,  was  subsequently  lost  on  New 
Inlet  bar,  North  Carolina. 

British  ship  William,  captured  by  the  Charles  Stewart, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Bath,  cargo  of  lumber. 

British  brig ,  captured  by  the  Harrison,  of  Balti- 
more, divested  of  a  quantity  of  English  goods  and  ran- 
somed. 

Schooner ,  under  Spanish  colors,  captured  by  the 

same,  and  divested  of  a  quantity  of  goods,  belonging  to 
British  merchants  in  Jamaica,  and  given  up. 

The  captain  of  the  Harrison  was  afterwards  killed  in  a 
battle  with  a  British  sloop-of-war. 

The  privateer  arrived  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  with  a 
full  cargo  of  goods  taken  from  the  enemy. 


1816.] 


THE    AMEHICAN    PIUVATEERS. 


325 


The  York,  of  Baltimore,  arrived  at  Boston  in  April, 
1815,  after  a  very  unHueccssful  cruise,  having  captured 
only  one  vijssel,  which  was  immediately  retaken.  tShe 
suffered  exceedingly  l)y  gales  of  wind  ;  in  one  of  which 
she  lost  overboard  four  seamen,  with  several  guns,  an- 
chors, etc.,  etc. 

Ship  Mary,  24G  tons,  G  guns,  from  Newfoundland,  for 
Lisbon,  laden  with  fish,  captured  by  the  Little  George, 
of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Marblehead.  The  Mary  was  a 
very  fine  vessel, 

English  brig  -  — ,  with  liquor  and  dry-goods,  sent  into 
Ocracock,  by  the  Kemp,  of  Baltimore. 

Sloop  Enterprise,  from  Guernsey,  for  Madeira,  with 
dry- goods  and  flour,  captured  by  the  Whig  of  Balti- 
more, divested  of  her  cargo,  and  given  up  to  the  pri- 
soners. 

Brigs  Brunswick  and  Race  Horse,  and  schooner 
Britannia,  captured  by  the  same  and  burnt. 

British  schooner  Lucy  Ann,  captured  by  the  Surprise, 
and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Forth,  from  Halifax,  for  Pictou,  in  ballast,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Two  vessels  laden  with  fish,  oil  and  coal,  captured  by 
the  Ranger,  and  burnt. 

English  ship ,  a  collier,  captured  off  the  coast  of 

England  by  the  Ranger,  of  Boston,  and  burnt. 

English  brig  Athill,  8  guns,  from  the  Mediterranean, 
bound  to  England,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  was  captured 
by  the  Lawrence  of  Baltimore,  and  sent  into  Brest, 
France. 

I  find  it  stated,  that  on  the  24th  of  December,  1814, 
the  Baltimore  privateer  Surprise  was  at  Brest,  and  there 
fired  a  salute,  which  was  answered  by  the  French  ad- 
miral with  11  guns. 


326 


THE   AMERICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


On  the  9th  of  January,  1815,  the  Surprise  sailed  from 
that  port,  hound  on  a  cruise. 

Five  days  after  leaving  port,  viz.,  on  the  14th  of  Jan- 
uary, the  i)rivateer  was  chased  for  several  hours  by  a 
British  ship-of-war,  who  fired  fifty  guns  at  her,  but 
witliout  effect.  She  was  fortunate  enough  to  make 
her  escape  during  the  night,  and  proceeded  on  her 
cruise. 


BATTTJ3   BTrrWEEN   THE  SURrRISE  AND  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  STAR^ 

CAPTURE  OF  THE  STAR. 

While  cruising  in  lat.  24''  10'  North,  long.  35°  50' 
West,  on  the  28th  of  January,  the  Surprise,  at  11 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  saw  a  sail  on  her  lee  quar- 
ter. The  wind  being  light,  the  privateer  manned  her 
sweeps  and  kept  away  for  the  strange  sail. 

At  half-past  12  meridian,  being  within  gun-shot,  the 
stranger  set  English  colors.  The  privateer  hoisted 
American  colors,  when  the  action  commenced  on  both 
sides,  and  was  kept  up  with  spirit  and  energy  by  the 
contending  parties  until  a  quarter-past  2  o'clock.  At 
that  time,  the  privateer,  with  the  aid  of  her  sweeps, 
managed  to  gain  a  raking  position  under  the  stern  of  the 
enemy,  who  then  struck  his  colors. 

She  proved  to  be  the  Enghsh  ship  Star,  mounting  8 
twelve-pounders,  with  26  men,  from  Batavia,  bound  for 
London,  laden  with  coffee  and  other  valuable  East  India 
produce. 

The  Star  had  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded.  She 
received  several  shots  in  her  hull,  and  was  considerably 
damaged  in  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Surprise  did  not  lose  a  man,  nor  have  one 
wounded.     She  received  several  shots  through  her  sails. 


ISlfi.] 


THE    AMERICAN    I'KIVATKERS. 


no' 


H  SHIP  STAR— 


and  had  her  fore-mast  and  forc-top-inast  wounded  by 
round  shot. 

The  privateer  removed  from  the  Star  a  con8idera))le 
portion  of  her  cargo,  and  tlien  put  a  prizo-nuister 
and  mate,  with  eighteen  seamen  on  board,  and  pro- 
ceeded in  company  with  her  towards  New  York. 

On  the  2Gth  of  February,  wliile  drawing  near  the 
coast,  the  Surprise  separated  from  her  prize  in  a  snow- 
storm. They  botli  subsequently  arrived  safe  at  New 
York  with  the  whole  of  this  valuable  cargo. 

The  portion  brought  in  by  the  privateer  was  valued 
at  $150,000. 

The  entire  cargo  of  the  Star  was  estimated  at 
$300,000. 

It  consisted  of  the  following  articles  :  1,180  bags  of 
sugar,  5,021  bags  of  cofl'ee,  45  tubs  of  camphor,  297 
bugs  of  sago,  224  cwt.  of  sapan-wood,  22  bales  of  nan- 
keens, 83  cases  of  cinnamon,  and  45  cases  of  tortoise- 
shell. 

The  English  three-masted  schooner  George,  (Voni 
Rio  Grande,  Africa,  to  Goree,  with  timber,  captured 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of 
prisonertj. 

British  brig ,  with  fish  and  oil,  sent  into  Ports- 
mouth, by  the  Champlain,  privateer. 

Brig  Susanna,  of  Liverpool,  200  tons  burthen,  cop- 
pered, with  a  full  cargo,  captured  on  her  voyage  from 
Havana,  for  England,  by  the  Sine-qua-non  privateer,  of 
Boston,  and  sent  into  Portsmouth,  N.  H,  The  Susanna 
was  under  Spanish  colors,  and  was  called  the  Antonia, 
but  her  true  name  and  character  were  afterward  dis- 
covered ;  and  both  vessel  and  cargo  proved  to  be 
English. 

Brig  Flying  Fish,  240  tons,   coppered,  with  a  rich 


Till')    AMMUICAN    I'UI  V  ATKIiUH  . 


[IHIO. 


('af;^<»,  <':i|>liir<'<l  on  Iicr  vovii;j;('  from  fidiHlDii  lo  TiirHt(», 
by  llic  hiivid  Poller,  mid  sciil  into  New  hcflforil  ; 
(•iir*,^.  viiliird  ul.  from  $ir,(),()(M)  \p  $200,000.  TIh«  Kly- 
iii^  I'^isli  \v;is  11  liii/4  I  10  fc*'!,  on  deck,  mid  in  (ivcry  way 
a  (inc  vessel. 

Tlie  l'ln;j;lish  piickcl  In'i;;  liiidy  Mary  I'clliain,  nioiinl- 
in^  lO^iiiiH  mid  UO  nirii,  wiis  caplinMMl  by  tin;  K('ni|(, 
(>r  lialliinorc,  and  sen!  iiilo  VVilniiii;^l(Hi,  N.  (/'.  TIk; 
packcl.  op|ios('<l  I  lie  privateer  willi  a  niaiily  spirit,  iinlii 
hIu!  liad  one  man  kille(l,  and  ei^^lil.  wounded,  when  siie 
Hurrondered  lo  I  lie  Kenip,  wliieh  vesscd  liad  one  man 
killed  and  Ihree  wounded. 


HUnSTANCI-;  OK  AN  AMUSINCJ  (JIIASK  HV  AN  KNCifJSir  KIIKJAIK 
AND  TIIH  I'UIVA'I'KKU  WAItltlolt,  CAl-'IAIN  CIIAMI'I.IN,  OK  NliW 
YOUK. 

On  l.lie  iniliof  December,  (^ij)lain  (-baniplin  made  Die 
island  of  !*'ayal,  and  al  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  wliik' 
about  enleriii^'  I  be  harbor,  ho  saw  an  Mn^lish  I'ri/^ate 
lyinfif  Ihere  al  anchor. 

Ah  soon  as  Ihe  rri;;ate  discovered  ibo  |irival(MM',  sIk; 
slipped  her  <;ablo  and  made;  sail  in  pui'siiii  of  JK^r.  The 
Warrior,  of  (!()ins(»,  carri(Ml  all  IIk!  sail  she  (!ould  boar,  lo 
avoid  lh(^  enemy,  and  al'lor  a  (^liasc;  of  some  forty  or  lil'ly 
niil(\s,  with  a  stroii<^  broe/e  and  sfjually  weather,  the 
IVi^^ato  approaehod  within  lon^-^iin-shot  of  the  privateer, 
iind  oommenoed  firing  upon  her  from  her  two  bow 
guns. 

At  this  moment,  Oaptain  Champlin  brought  liic  long- 
torn  to  bear,  and  lull'ed-to  a  little,  to  show  his  slar- 
board  battery,  which  indicated  a  dis[)osition  to  light 
(as  the  enemy  supposed),  whi(!h  induced  the  frigate 
to  shorten  sail,  and  give  battle  in  due  form. 
Under  these  favorable  circumstances,  Captain  Champliii 


I  Kir.. 


ISIA. 


Till';  ami;i{h:an  ruiVATi:i;uH. 


;;20 


Ucdlunl  ; 

'IMic  V\y- 

I'vrry  way 

m,  inoiiiit- 
IIk?  Kemp, 
I.e.     Tl..^ 

spirit,  until 
vvln'M  nln' 

(1     ()I\U    IIDIM 


,1SII     I'llKIATI'; 

1,1  N,   OK     NKW 

liu  iiiiidc  till! 
niiii^,  wliil(! 
I^linli  rri^atu 

viit(M!r,  hIh' 
\wr.  Tlif 
uld  hour,  to 
)rty()r  lil'ty 
wdiilhci',  the 
le  privat(H!r, 
ur  two  bow 

ht  hif  loiif^- 

ow  his  ^^''^^' 
ion  to  liglit 
the   frigate 

ainChamplii^ 


threw  ovt'ilioanl    till  liis   let'  gmis  with  .sliot    ami  utlicr 
heavy  ailieh's. 

After  having  liglitciicd  IiIm  vt'HNcl,  lie  iiiaile  nail  and 
(l()d;;'<'d  the  (Miciny  diiriii;^  t|ii>  iii^lit,  and  thus   made  liiH 

cscapJ!. 

Till  IK    MAUNASIMITV. 

TIk'  folhtwiii^  Htatrinciit,  was  (!Ntra<'t(M|  from  a  liOii- 
(JoH  piiprr,  called  the  Aiiiora,  dated  Deeeinher  ImI, 
IHI  I  : 

"  Mit.  Mditoii  :  Von  will  jileaHe  a,  ^reat,  nnuiher  (»f  your 
fcadei'M  in  (Jrciit  Mritain,  who  are  /ealous  in  .spreadin;:; 
llie  Divine  Oospcd  all  over  the  earth,  hy  nhowiii;^  them 
that  there  are  Home  American  eiti/ens  who  are  willing 
Id  unilt^  with  uh  in  Hending  Mi.s.sionarie.s  to  all  partH  of 
llie  ^lohe. 

TIk!  Key.  Mr.  Hcmihou  read  ilw.  following  note,  which 
was  lransmit,t,ed  to  him  hy  one  of  hi.s  hrethrun  in 
Wales  : 

A  few  W(M'kH  sinc,(»,  a  trading  vessel,  laden  with  corn, 
IVotn  Cardigan,  in  Wales,  was  taketi  in  IIm;  (diaiund  l»y 
an  Ani(Mi(!an  privatxicr.  When  the  captain  of  the  latter 
entered  the;  cahin  to  survey  his  pri/e,  he  espied  a  small 
box  withahoh;  in  tin;  top,  simihir  to  that;  which  trades- 
iiKMi  have  in  th('ir  (louidei's,  through  which  tlniy  drop 
llicir  jnon<;y,  on  which  th*;  words  "  Missionary  box" 
were  ins(;ribe<l.  On  seein;^  this,  th(»  American  c!ii)tain 
KOGincd  not  alittlo  astonished,  and  address(Ml  th(!  Welsh 
C!i|)tain  nearly  aH  follows:  "  (^i[)t,ain,  what  is  this?" 
point-ing  to  the  })ox  with  his  stick.  "  Oh!"  re|)Iied  the 
lionest  Cambrian,  heaving  a  sigh,  "  'tis  all  over  now  !" 
"  What;?"  said  tin;  American  (!a[»tain.  "  Why,  the  truth 
is,"  said  the  "Welshman,  "  that  I,  and  my  poor  (cIIowh, 
hiivc  been  accustomed,  every  Monday  morning,  to  drop 
a  penny  each  into  that  box,  for  th(!   purpose  of  sending 


330 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


out  Missionaries  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen  ; 
but  it  is  all  over  now."  "  Indeed !"  answered  the 
American  captain,  "  that  is  very  good."  After  pausing 
a  few  minutes,  he  said  :  "  Captain,  I'll  not  hurt  a  hair 
of  your  head,  nor  touch  your  vessel,"  and  immediately 
departed,  leaving  the  owner  to  pursue  his  cofse  to  his 
destined  port." 


[1815. 

Q  heathen  ; 
swered  the 
ter  pausing 
hurt  a  hair 
immediately 
lou'se  to  hia 


CHAPTER    X. 


DESrKHATK  HATTLK  nRTWEES  THE  UNITED  STATES  SHIP  non.VCT,  CAPTAIT*  DIDDLE,  AND 
THE  BUmSH  SLOOP-OK-WAK  PENGUIN — REMAIIKB  ON  THE  DATTLE— CAPTUKE  OP  TUB 
Bllia  LADY  TIIOWBUIDGE  BY  THE  PUIVATEEll  IXO,  OK  BOSTON— I/)SS  OK  THE  INC  OFK 
CHARLESTON  BAR— CAPTUKE  OK  THE  SHIP  MARY  AND  SUSAN,  BY  THE  CHAS8EUR  -CAP- 
TUP:;;  OKTHE  ship  ADVENTURE  BY  THE  SAME  VtSSEI, — SENT  INTO  CHARLESTON— EXlllACT 
FROM  THE  LOa-BOOK  OK  THE  PRIVATEER  MC.  DONOUOU — IXTERJ3T1NO  CllUISK  OP  TUB 
PRIVATEER  YOUNG  WASP — CAPTURE  OK  THE  BRITISH  SHIP  ARABELLA,  OK  CALCUTTA, 
BY  THE  SHIP  RAMBLER  t>K  BOSTON — CAITURK  OK  THE  PACKET-SHIP  ELIZABiail, 
AFTER  A  SHORT  BATTLE,  BY  THE  LETTER-OK-MARQUE  JACOB  JONES,  OK  BOSTON — CAP- 
TURE OF  THE  PRIVATEER  HYDER-ALI,  IN  THE  EAST  INDIES,  BY  THE  BRITISH  KRIGATK 
OWEN  GLENDOWER— CAPTAIN  BOYLE'S  CRUISE  'N  THE  BRITISH  CHANNEL,  IN  THE 
PRIVATFJ;R  chasseur — a  list  ok  prizes  made  BY  CAPTAIN  BOYLi; — CAPTAIN 
BOYLE'a  BURLESQUE  BIXJCKADE— CAPTURE  OK  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJTOTY's  SCHOONER  ST. 
LAWRENCE,  BY  CAITAIN  BOYLE,  IN  THE  CHASSEUR — ARRIVAL  OK  CAITAIN  BOYLE  AT 
BALTIMORE  IN  THE  PRIVA'TOER  CHASSEUR,  AFTER  A  SUCCF.SSKUL  CRUISE  IN  TUB  WEST 
INDIES — THE  author's  ADMIRATION  OK  CAPTAIN  BOYLE  AND  HIS  GALLANT  EX- 
PLOITS. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  BATTLE  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  SHIP 
HORNET,  J.  BIDDLE,  COMMANDER,  AND  THE  BRITISH  SLOOP-OF-WAR 
PENGUIN,  CAPTAIN  DICKENSON,  ON  THE  25TH  OF  MARCH,  1815, 
NEAR  THE  ISLAND  OF  TRISTAN  D'ACUNHA. 

I  have  selected  this  action  from  among  many  others, 
because  I  believed  the  two  vessels  as  nearly  equal,  both 
in  men  and  guns,  as  could  possibly  be  chosen  from  the 
navies  of  their  respective  countries.  Consequently,  I 
think  this  action  a  very  fair  test  between  Young  America 
and  Old  England,  in  point  of  seamanship,  skill,  and 
bravery.  I  consider  this  one  of  the  fairest  and  best 
fought  battles,  on  both  sides,  that  occurred  during  the 
war. 

In  some  of  the  other  naval  battles  fought  between 
single  American  and  British  ships,  it  so  happened  that 
the  force  of  the  American  vessels  was  slightly  superior 

(331) 


332 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


in  men  ami  guns  to  the  English  ;  but  in  this  instance,  1 
trust,  the  Enghsh  will  not  raise  that  objection,  but  on 
the  contrary,  acknowledge  it  without  a  cavil,  to  have 
been  a  fair-fought  action,  and  a  decided  victory  in  favor 
of  the  American  ship. 

These  two  sloops-of-war  had,  previous  to  their  meet- 
ing, been  wishing  and  seeking  for  an  opportunity  to  dis- 
tinguish themselves  by  gaining  a  decisive  battle  over  the 
enemies  of  their  respective  countries,  in  an  honorable 
combat  on  the  broad  ocean. 

When  the  Penguin  hove  in  sight,  and  the  two  bel- 
ligerent parties  understood  the  character  of  each  other, 
their  hearts  beat  high  with  hope  for  a  glorious  vic- 
tory. 

The  Penguin  bore  up,  and  ran  off  a  little,  to  get  clear  of 
the  land.  At  the  same  thne,  the  Hornet,  being  a  little  to 
leeward,  backed  her  main-top-sail,  and  v/aited  for  her 
opponent  to  come  down,  that  they  might  commence  the 
action. 

As  the  two  ships  neared  each  other,  the  Penguin 
hoisted  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun,  which  said, 
as  plain  as  a  gun  could  speak,  I  am  ready  for  the 
light. 

Capt.  Biddle  set  his  colors,  and  here  follows  his  official 
account  of  the  action  : 


Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy . 

Sir, — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d  instant,  at  half-past  ten  o'clock  when 
about  to  anchor  off  the  north  end  of  the  Island  of  Tris- 
tan d'Acunha,  a  sail  was  seen  to  the  southward  and 
eastward,  steering  to  the  westward,  the  wind  fresh 
from  the  S.S.W.  In  a  few  minutes  she  had  passed 
on  to  the  westward,    so   that  we   could   not  see  her 


I8ir>.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


338 


ows  his  official 


for  the  land.  I  immediately  made  sail  for  the  west- 
ward, and  shortly  after  getting  in  sight  of  her 
again,  perceived  her  to  bear  up  before  the  wind.  I 
hove-to  for  him  to  come  down  to  us.  When  she  had 
approached  near,  I  filled  the  main-top-sail,  and  continued 
to  yaw  the  ship,  while  she  continued  to  come  down, 
wearing  occasionally  to  prevent  her  passing  under  our 
stern.  At  forty  minutes  past  one  p.  m.,  being  nearly 
within  musket-shot  distance,  she  hauled  her  wind  on  the 
starboard  tack,  hoisted  English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun. 
We  immediately  luffed-to,  hoisted  our  ensign,  and  gave 
the  enemy  a  broadside.  The  action  being  tluis  com- 
menced a  quick  and  well-directed  fire  was  kept  up  from 
this  ship,  the  enemy  gradually  drifting  nearer  to  us, 
when  at  five  minutes  to  2  o'clock  he  bore  up  apparently 
to  run  us  on  board.  As  soon  as  I  perceived  he 
would  certainly  fall  on  board,  I  called  the  boarders, 
so  as  to  be  ready  to  repel  the  attempt.  At  the  in- 
stant every  officer  and  man  repaired  to  the  quarter- 
deck, where  the  two  vessels  were  coming  in  contact,  and 
eagerly  pressed  me  to  permit  them  to  board  the  enemy  ; 
but  this  I  would  not  permit,  as  it  was  evident,  from  the 
commencement  of  the  action,  that  our  fire  was  greatly 
superior  both  in  quickness  and  in  effect.  The  enemy's 
bowsprit  came  in  between  our  main  and  mizzen  rigging, 
on  our  starboard  side ,  affording  him  an  opportunity  to 
board  us,  if  such  was  his  design,  but  no  attempt  was 
made.  There  was  a  considerable  swell  on,  and  as  the 
sea  lifted  us  ahead,  the  enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away 
our  raizen-shrouds,  stern  davits  and  spanker-boom,  and 
he  hung  upon  our  larboard  quarter.  At  this  moment 
an  officer,  who  was  afterwards  recognized  to  be  Mr. 
McDonald,  the  first  lieutenant,  and  the  then  com- 
manding officer,  called  out  that  they  had  suriendered. 


334 


THE   AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


I  directed  the  marines  and  musketry-men  to  cease  firing, 
and  while  on  the  taflfrail  asking  if  they  had  surrendered, 
I  received  a  wound  in  the  neck.     The  enemy  just  then 
got  clear  of  us,  and  his  fore-mast  and  bowsprit  being 
both  gone,  and  perceiving  us  wearing  to  give  him  a  fresh 
broadside,  he  again  called  out  that  he  had  surrendered. 
It  was  with   difficulty  I  could  restrain  my  crew  from 
firing  into  him  again,  as  he  had  certainly  fired  into  us 
after  having  surrendered.     From  the  firing  of  the  first 
gun,  to  the  last  time  the  enemy  cried  out  he  had  sur- 
rendered, was  exactly  twenty-two  minutes  by  the  watch. 
She  proved  to  be  his  Britannic  Majesty's  brig  Pen- 
guin, mounting  IG  thirty-two-pound  carronades,    two 
long-twelves,  a  twelve-pound  carronade  on  the  top-gal- 
lant forecastle,  with  swivels  on  the  capstan  and  in  the 
tops.     Phe  had  a  spare  port  forward,  so  as  to  fight  both 
her  long  guns  of  a  side.     She  sailed  from  England  in 
September.     She   was    shorter   upon    deck   than   this 
ship,  by  two  feet,  but  she  had  a  greater  length  of  keel, 
greater  breadth  of  beam,  thicker  sides,  and  higher  bul- 
warks than  this  ship,  and  w^as  in  all  respects  a  remark- 
ably fine  vessel  of  her  class.  The  enemy  acknowledged  a 
complement  of  132  men,  12  of  them  supernumerary  ma- 
rines, from  the  Medway  "  74,"  received  on  board  in  con- 
sequence of  their  being  ordered  to  cruise  for  the  Ameri- 
can privateer  Young  Wasp.  They  acknowledge  also  a  loss 
of  14  killed,  and  28  wounded  ;  but  Mr.  Mayo,  who  was 
in  charge  of  the  prize,  assures  me  that  the  number  of 
killed  was  certainly  greater.     Among  the  killed  is  Capt. 
Dickenson,  who  fell  at  the  close  of  the  action,  and  the 
boatswain ;  amongthe  wounded  are  the  second  lieutenant, 
purser,  and  two  midshipmen.     Each  of  the  midshipmen 
lost  a  leg.     We  received  on  board  in  all,  118  prisoners, 
four  of  whom  have  since  died  of  their  wounds.  Having 


[1815. 

ease  firing, 

irrendcred, 

y  just  then 

sprit  being 

him  a  fresh 

Lirrendered. 
crew  from 

ired  into  us 
of  the  first 
he  had  sur- 

y  the  watch. 

s  brig  Pen- 

mades,    two 
the  top-gal- 

n  and  in  the 
to  fight  both 

i  England  in 

"k   than   this 

ngth  of  keel, 
higher  bul- 
;ts  a  remark- 
:nowledged  a 
umerary  ma- 
board  in  con- 
,r  the  Ameri- 
idgealsoaloss 
ayo,  "who  was 
,e  number  of 
iUed  is  Capt. 
ition,  and  the 
[nd  lieutenant, 
midshipmen 
111 8  prisoners, 
funds.  Having 


1815.J 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


835 


removed  the  prisoners,  and  taken  on  board  such  provi- 
sions and  stores  as  would  be  useful  to  us,  I  scuttled  the 
Penguin  this  morning,  before  daylight,  and  she  went 
down.  As  she  was  completely  riddled  by  our  shot,  her 
foremast  and  bowsprit  both  gone,  and  her  mainmast  so 
crippled  as  to  be  incapable  of  being  secured,  it  seemed 
unadvisable,  at  this  distance  from  home,  to  attempt  send- 
ing her  to  the  United  States. 

This  ship  did  not  receive  a  single  round  shot  in  her 
hull,  nor  any  material  wound  in  her  spars  ;  the  rigging 
and  sails  wore  very  much  cut,  but  having  bent  a  new 
suit  of  sails,  and  knotted  and  secured  our  rigging,  we 
are  now  completely  ready  in  all  respects,  for  any  service. 
We  were  eight  men  short  of  complement,  and  had  nine 
upon  the  sick  list  the  morning  of  the  action. 

Enclosed  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  I  lament 
to  state  that  Lieutenant  Conner  is  dangerously  wounded. 
I  feel  great  solicitude  on  his  account,  as  he  is  an  officer 
of  so  much  promise,  and  his  loss  would  be  a  serious  loss 
to  the  service. 

It  is  a  most  pleasing  part  of  my  duty  to  acquaint  you, 
that  the  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Conner  and  Newton,  Mr. 
Mayo,  acting  Lieutenant  Brownlow  of  the  Marines,  Sail- 
ing-master Romney,  and  the  other  officers,  seamen,  and 
marines  I  have  the  honor  to  command,  was  in  the  high- 
est degree  creditable  to  them,  and  calls  for  my  warmest 
recommendation.  I  cannot,  indeed,  do  justice  to  their 
merits.  The  satisfaction  which  was  diffused  throughout 
the  ship  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  stranger  was 
an  enemy's  sloop-of-war,  and  the  alacrity  with  which 
every  one  repaired  to  quarters,  fully  assured  me  that 
their  conduct  in  the  action  would  be  marked  with  cool- 
ness and  intrepidity. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

J.  BIDDLE. 


336 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


The  loss  on  board  the  Hornet,  was  1  killed  and  11 
wounded. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  ACTION,  CONTINUED. 

The  question  has  been  often  asked  by  intelligent  men 
of  every  civilized  country — how  is  it  that  a  young  nation, 
like  the  United  States,  with  but  a  small  navy,  and  that 
unaccustomed  to  naval  battles,  should  be  able  to  cope 
successfully,  upon  equal  terms,  with  British  ships-of-war  ? 
A  thousand  reasons  have  been  alleged  and  as  many 
times   contradicted. 

The  English  have  always  asserted  that  in  these  conflicts 
our  ships  were  larger,  carried  heavier  guns,  and  that  we 
had  so  small  a  navy  that  we  were  enabled  to  man  our 
ships  of  war  with  picked  seamen  from  the  merchant 
marine.  This  assertion  has  been  again  and  again  re- 
peated, and  when  by  us  refuted,  some  other  subterfuge 
has  been  raised,  to  evade  the  simple  facts  of  the  case. 

Mr.  Fenimore  Cooper,  in  a  charitable  spirit,  attributed 
our  successes  to  our  having  got  the  start  of  the  English  in 
the  modern  improvement  of  gunnery.  There  may  be 
some  truth  in  this,  but  I  think  the  true  reason  has  nol 
yet  been  touched  upon,  or  brought  forward,  by  any 
writer  on  this  subject. 

I  will  therefore  proceed  to  give  what  I  believe  to  be 
the  true  cause  of  our  gaining  so  many  victories  over  our 
experienced  rival. 

In  my  opinion,  it  grows  out  of  the  different  forma- 
tion and  practical  workings  of  a  monarchical  govern- 
ment on  the  one  hand,  and  a  free  republic  on  the  other. 

In  England,  during  the  period  of  our  last  war,  if  their 
seamen  were  unwilHng  to  enter  on  board  of  their  men- 
of-war,  they  were  impressed  for  an  indefinite  time,  forced 
to  fight  against  their  wills,  and  except  they  belonged  to 


[1815. 
led  and  11 


1815.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


o3 


elUgent  men 
oung  nation, 
ry^  and  that 
ible  to  cope 
iliips-of-war? 
tnd  as  many 

these  conflicts 
3,  and  that  we 
d  to  man  our 
the  merchant 
and  again  re- 
her  subterfuge 
of  the  case. 
Dirit,  attributed 
jftheEnghshin 
There  may  be 
reason  has  not 
Irward,  by  any 

1 1  beheve  to  be 
ptories  over  our 


respectable  families,  and  could  make  interest  at  court, 
stood  no  chance  of  promotion. 

Tliey  felt  they  were  fighting  for  the  King  and  the  no- 
bility, for  a  country  in  whose  aflliirs  they  had  no  voice 
or  vote,  and  when  at  home,  were  of  no  consideration, 
and  only  expected  to  obey  their  superiors.  In  line,  they 
knew  they  were  only  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the 
aristocracy,  and  not  a  constituent  part  of  the  nation. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  American  seamen  were  ship- 
ped for  a  term  of  two  or  three  years,  and  knew  when 
their  time  expired,  they  were  free,  and  could  not  bo 
forced  on  board  against  their  wills.  Another  reason  for 
their  willingness  to  fight,  waf>  that  the  English  for  many 
years,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  impressing  them  into  their 
men-of-war,  where  they  were  compelled  to  fight  against 
nations  with  whom  they  had  no  quarrel. 

Another  strong  inducement  for  the  American  seamen 
to  enter  into  the  war  with  spirit  was,  that  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  had  declared  war  principally 
on  their  account.  This  fact  inspired  them  with  courage 
and  enthusiasm,  and  led  to  their  favorite  motto ; 

"  Free  trade  and  sailor's  rights,  and  no  impressment." 

An  American  seaman  also  feels  that  he  is  a  man,  and 
when  he  performs  his  duty  like  a  man,  that  he  is  entitled 
to  the  respect  due  to  a  free  citizen  of  a  great  republic, 
and  is  therefore  bound  to  sustain  its  honor  and  its  glor}'. 
He  also  feels  that  if  capable,  he  can  rise  to  fame  and  for- 
tune, irrespective  of  birth  or  family  influence. 

In  the  estimation  of  character,  an  American  appre- 
ciates a  man  according  to  his  talents  and  virtue,  and  not 
by  his  artificial  rank.  "Witness  in  this  action  the  feeling 
I  have  attempted  to  describe  :  though  Capt.  Biddle  was 
said  to  be  a  strict  disciplinarian,  still,  by  reading  the 
22 


338 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[181/5. 


account  oftlio  battle,  it  is  easy  to  see  how  mucli  lie  was 
beloved  by  his  crew,  and  how  ready  they  were  to  resent 
the  outrage  committed  upon  him  after  the  enemy  had 
surrendered. 

In  these  remarks,  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  cap- 
tains and  superior  officers  in  the  British  navy  are  not 
brave  and  gallant  men,  and  that  they  are  not  willing  to 
fight  for  their  king  and  country,  whenever  called  upon  ; 
on  the  contrary,  I  believe  them  to  be  ever  ready  to  shed 
the  last  drop  of  their  blood  in  defence  of  their  country's 
honor  and  glory.  But,  in  my  opinion,  this  does  not  ap- 
ply to  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  on  board  their  ships- 
of-war. 

If  this  assertion  be  not  true,  how  then,  can  any  one 
account  for  the  many  English  and  Irish  seamen  found  on 
board  of  our  men-of-war  and  privateers,  fighting  against 
their  own  nation,  when  not  one  American,  to  my 
knowledge,  voluntarily  fought  against  his  country  ? 

I  have  questioned  several  English  seamen  on  the  sub- 
ject of  their  fighting  against  their  country,  and  the  re- 
ply, in  all  cases,  was  about  the  same.  They  said,  it  is 
true  I  was  born  in  England,  but  never  had  any  concern 
in  its  social  or  political  institutions,  for  every  body 
knows  that  in  that  country  a  poor  man  has  no  part  or 
lot  in  its  government.  And  as  for  the  nobility  and 
privileged  classes,  I  hate  them  worse  than  poison. 

These  facts  are  not  generally  known  in  England, 
when  they  are  seeking  for  reasons  to  account  for  their 
many  defeats  in  their  naval  engagements  with  the  United 
States. 

The  British  soldiers  (called  marines)  on  board  of 
their  men-of-war,  are  brave  enough,  it  is  true,  but  arc 
mere  tools  in  the  hands  of  the  aristocracy.  The  great 
portion  of  their  duty  is  to  protect  the  officers  and  watch 


[1816. 

lucli  he  was 
!re  to  resent 
3  enemy  luul 

liat  the  cap- 
lavy  are  not 
lot  willhig  to 
called  upon  ; 
ready  to  shed 
icir  country's 
I  does  not  ap- 
rd  their  Bhips- 

,  can  any  one 
imen  found  on 
ghting  against 
jrican,  to   my 
country  ? 
en  on  the  sub- 
-y,  and  the  rc- 
they  said,  it  is 
id  any  concern 
r   every  body 
las  no  part  or 
nobility  and 
.  poison, 
n  in  England, 
count  for  their 
with  the  United 

)  on  board  of 
is  true,  but  arc 
cy.  The  great 
ficersandAvatch 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


339 


the  seamen,  to  prevent  desertion  ;  con.sefjueiitly  they 
are  generally  despised  and  hated  by  tlie  sailors.'" 

I  am  aware  that  I  am  writing  on  a  very  delicate  sub- 
ject, but  as  1  have  attempted  to  prove  that  our  suc- 
cesses were  not  owing  to  em})loying  picked  seamen  to 
man  our  ships,  or  to  their  sui)erior  weight  of  metal,  but 
almost  entirely  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  our  govei'n- 
nient,  contrasted  with  a  monarchical  one  ;  and  in  carrying 
out  my  argument,  I  have  been  obliged  to  bi'ing  out 
several  facts  which  I  suppose  will  not  be  very  agreeable 
to  an  English  ear. 

As  a  corroborating  ftict  of  what  I  have  stated,  T  ask 
the  reader  to  call  to  mind  the  many  glorious  victories 
gained  by  the  French  republic  during  its  great  struggle 
against  combined  Europe.  With  an  army  of  a  hundred 
thousand  men,  singing  the  Marseilles  Hymn,  by  whole 
battalions,  accompanied  by  eighty  pieces  of  artillery 
playing  the  chorus,  they  swept  entire  armies  before 
them.  Yes,  it  is  such  exciting  scenes  that  fully  de- 
velop the  power  of  republican  enthusiasm,  and  lead  men 
to  face  death  at  the  cannon's  mouth. 

During  our  war  with  England,  in  1812,  theproncness 
of  the  people  of  that  country  to  credit  every  statement 
in  disparagement  of  their  adversaries,  was  eagerly 
seconded  by  the  government. 

The  government  papers  at  that  period  abounded  with 
falsehoods  so  gross,  and  with  perversions  so  reckless, 
that  the  people  might  well  suppose  the  Americans  to  be 
an  uncivilized  race,  between  whom  and  the  Indians,  lit- 
tle difference  existed. 

*  After  the  above  remarks  on  the  marine  corps,  candor  prompts  me  to  say 
that  they  are  a  very  important  arm  to  every  navy,  not  only  to  support  disci- 
pline, but  to  add  a  martial  appearance  to  a  man-of-war. 


340 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


The  official  reports  of  Ijiittlcs  at  tliat  cpodi,  whether 
on  sea  or  land,  were  studiou.sly  deceptive. 

No  account  by  any  British  naval  or  army  olhcer,  of  hin 
defeat  or  disaster  could  be  pul)]is}icd  until  "  revised 
and  corrected"  by  tlio  Adinii*alty  or  the  Horse  Guards. 

Every  success  was  magnified  and  exaggerated,  wliiio 
every  defeat  was  qualified  and  attributed  to  an}'  other 
cause  than  American  valor,  seamanship,  or  general- 
ship. 

The  victories  of  IIull,  Perry,  McDonough,  and  Jack- 
son, were  ascribed  to  monstrous  disparity  of  force  on 
our  side,  aided  by  those  untoward  accidents  which  bra- 
very and  skill  can  neither  avert  nor  overcome. 

I  need  not  say  to  any  American  readei",  that  the 
frigate  President  was  (  tptured  after  one  of  the  inost 
gallant  and  well  conducted  battles  in  naval  annals. 

She  encountered  a  British  squadron,  consisting  of  the 
frigate  Endymion,  the  Majestic  Razee,  and  the  frigates 
Pomone  and  Tennydos. 

She  had  a  severe  running  fight  with  the  Endymion  for 
two  hours  and  a  half,  and  had  so  completely  beaten  that 
ship,  that  she  was  silenced,  and  dropped  far  astern,  wait- 
ing for  the  other  three  ships  to  come  up  ;  and  yet  the 
government  papers  announced,  in  their  usual  inflated 
language  of  triumph,  the  capture  of  the  American  fri- 
gate President,  by  His  Majesty's  ship  Endymion, 

They  have  now  in  England  and  its  colonies,  beautiful 
engravings  in  rich  frames,  representing  a  most  gallant 
victory  by  the  Endymion  over  the  President,  the  two 
ships  lying  side  by  side,  and  no  other  vessel  in  the  pic- 
ture, nor  any  indication  by  note  or  comment,  that  it  was 
any  other  than  a  single  battle  between  the  two  ships. 

If  we  measure  the  degree  of  civiUzation  of  a  people 


[1815. 
ich,  whether 

olVicer,  of  hin 
itil  "revised 
[orse  Oiuirda. 
rcriited,  while 
to  any  other 
or  gcnenil- 

irh,  and  Jack- 
ty  of  force  on 
iits  which  bra- 
lome. 

ader,  that  the 
,c  of  the  mosl 
A  annals, 
insisting  of  the 
nd  the  frigates 

c  Endymion  for 
tely  beaten  that 
far  astern,  wait- 
3 ;  and  yet  the 
usual  inilated 
c  American  fri- 
idymion. 
onies,  beautiful 
a  most  gallant 
sident,  the  two 
issel  in  the  pic- 
-nent,  thatitwas 

le  two  ships. 
ion  of  a  people 


18 15.  J 


Tin:  A.Mi:i{ir.v\  I'liiVATr.Kus. 


nil 


by  their  luunanity  in  war,  wo  adojil  a  just  standard. 
Tlie  savage  and  tho  Clnistiaa  dillbr  in  few  respects,  more 
strikingly,  than  in  their  bearing  towards  their  enemies. 
Cruelty,  plunder,  and  slaugliter  are  insejiaralde  from  the 
idea  of  bravery  and  glory  in  the  estimation  of  the  former, 
while  the  elevating  spirit  of  our  religion  and  of  the  civili- 
zation, of  which  that  religion  is  the  fountain,  impel  the 
the  latter  to  mercy  and  humanity. 

With  civilized  powers,  the  triumph  of  the  victor  i.s  not 
complete  until  he  has  nianifested,  not  oidy  forbearance, 
but  kindness  towards  the  vanqui.shed.  Prisoners  of  war 
cease  to  stand  as  enemies,  and  are  thenceforth  but  fellow- 
men,  entitled  to  those  humanities  which  man  owes  to  his 
fellow-man.  Civilized  nations,  in  waging  war,  jire  ever 
bound  to  respect  and  shelter  private  persons,  and  in 
passing  through  an  enemy *h  country,  to  protect  private 
property,  defenceless  age,  women  and  children.  Tho 
brutal  passions  of  depraved  soldiers  must  be  restrained, 
and  unnecessary  bloodshed  avoided. 

The  British  lay  high  claim  to  such  (;ivilization  and  to 
such  humanity.  It  would  be  unjust  to  deny  that  their 
humane  and  gallant  officers  have,  in  very  many  instan- 
ces, justified  such  claim.  Such  men,  for  instance,  as  Sir 
Thomas  Hardy  and  Captain  W,  F.  Wise,  are  an  honor 
to  any  nation.  From  the  latter,  the  writer  acknowledges 
for  himself  and  his  officers,  with  warm  friendship  and 
gratitude,  the  reception  of  the  most  delicate  and  gener- 
ous attention,  while  prisoners  on  board  the  frigate 
Granicus. 

But  such  was  not  the  customary  treatment  received 
by  American  prisoners  in  the  war  of  1812.  As  a  gen- 
eral thing,  when  an  American  merchant  ship  or  private 
armed  vessel  was  captured,  all  charts,  books  and  nauti- 
.  cal  instruments  were  seized  and  taken  away  ;  and  the 


842 


Tlir;    AMKRICAN    I'lUVATEERS. 


L1816. 


only  answer  to  ronion.struncoM  was,  tlmt  thia  conduct  was 
under  ordor.s  from  the  Admiralty.  Nor  did  plunder 
always  .stop  here,  it  was  often  extended,  inider  the 
same  plea,  to  the  immediate  personal  eiVeets  of  the 
captives. 

The  ti'eatnient  of  prisoners  was  generally  most  unjus- 
tifiable, and  in  many  eases,  such  as  to  outrnp^e  decency 
and  humanity,  (^iptains,  mates  and  supercargoes,  as 
well  as  crews,  were  sent  to  prison,  or  slowed  away  in 
fdthy  prison-shi})s.  They  were  uot  allowed  their  per- 
sonal liberty  on  jjarole  of  honor,  except  in  a  few  cases, 
where  powerful  interest  could  bo  brought  to  bear  in  be- 
half of  individuals. 

I  believe  that  I  may  say  for  the  credit  of  oui"  Hag,  that 
whenever  one  of  our  national  or  private  armed  ships  cap- 
tured a  British  vessel,  all  private  property  of  the  ollicers 
and  crew  was  held  sacred,  and  when  the  prisoners  reached 
the  United  States,  captains,  mates,  and  supercargoes 
were  allowed  social  liberty  on  their  parole  of  honor, 
with  the  full  rnngo  of  the  city  or  town  where  they  were 
quartered.  Whenever  their  })ersonal  qualities  were  sucli 
as  to  entitle  them  to  it,  they  enjoyed  the  social  lios})i- 
tality  of  our  citizens.  The  seamen  were  so  well  fed  and 
amply  provided  for,  that  in  very  many  instances  they 
left  the  country  with  great  reluctance,  when  exchanged 
for  American  prisoners. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  has  no  wish  or  willingness  to 
take  a  narrow  view  of  so  broad  a  subject  as  the  character- 
istics of  a  great,  powerful,  enlightened.  Christian,  and 
brave  nation.  Such  undoubtedly,  our  former  enemy 
was  and  is,  but  still  it  is  impossible  in  seeking  for  truth, 
to  shut  our  eyes  to  the  wide  space  which  lies  between 
her  claims  and  her  merits  in  these  respects.  The  shock- 
ing and  long-continued  barbarities  practised  toward  her 


[181/5. 

coiuliictwas 
dill  i>Uin(ler 
,  under  llio 
Tocts   of  lUo 

•  most  unjuH- 
wv^ii  di'CLMicy 
lorcar^oes,  us 
wod  uway  in 
'ed  their  per- 
il 51  lew  c'lisos, 
to  bear  in  be- 

f  our  (lag,  that 
inecl  ships  cap- 
of  the  olUccrs 
.<oncrs  reached 
i  supercargoes 
trolc  of  honor, 
lero  they  were 
ities  were  such 
ic  social  hospi- 
?o  well  led  and 
instances  they 
ben  exchanged 

•  williugnessto 
;  the  character- 
Christian,  and 
former  enemy 
king  for  truth, 
3h  lies  between 
The  shock- 
Ised  toward  her 


1815.] 


TIIK   AMKUICAN    I'UIVATKIUIS. 


313 


prisoners  in  tlio  war  of  our  revolution,  arc  recorded  in 
the  history  of  the  "Old  Sugar  House,"  "  Tbe  .lail," 
*'Tlie  Jersey  Prison  Siiiit,"  at  the  "\Vallal)Oul,  and  oilier 
aliodes  of  cruelty  and  wretchedness.  Tbe  war  wliieh 
followed  in  1812,  witnessed  her  incomplete  civili/.alion 
in  the  miseries  inllided  al  Darlmoor  prison. 

AVith  how  nuich  pride  can  we  point,  not  only  to  our 
action  toward  the  enemy  on  the  sea,  l)ut  to  tiie  conduct 
of  our  olTK^crs  and  soldiers  in  battle  and  after  battle  on  Ihe 
land.  Such  an  act  as  tbe  recent  demolition  by  tbe  JJri- 
tish  troojjs  of  the  choice  treasures  of  ancient  ;irt  and 
learning,  which  the  studies  and  toils  of  scholars  and  an- 
ti(|uarians  had  garnered  u[)  in  the  Xational  Museum  of 
Kerlcb,  fixes  an  indelible  blot  on  the  escutcheon  of  Eng- 
land. 

In  blazing  contrast  to  such  shocking  acts  as  this,  and 
tlie  sack  of  Badajoz,  to  which  reference  will  prescnitly 
be  made,  was  the  recent  campaign  by  our  troops  under 
General  Scott,  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mexico.  Almost 
every  mile  of  that  long  journey  was  rendered  memo- 
rable by  some  sanguinary  battle,  and  victory  terminating 
in  the  surrender  of  the  great  city  itself.  Phuider,  sack, 
and  rapine  were  unknown.  The  very  sui)plies  taken 
from  the  inhabitants  for  our  troops,  were  fully  paid  for  ; 
private  property  and  houses  were  respected,  and  out- 
rage upon  age  or  sex  was  unknown. 

It  is  not  easy  to  say  whether  our  troops,  and  their 
illustrious  commander  (General  Winfield  Scott),  achieved 
more  glory  for  their  country  by  their  intrepid  and  in- 
vincible valor,  or  in  illustrating  the  civilization  of 
America  by  their  humanity  and  morality. 

What  more  striking  contrast  can  be  presented  than 
that  between  the  conduct  of  the  triumphant  Americans 


344 


THE    AMERICAN    ntlVATEEUS. 


under  Sooit,  ut  ^Foxico,  and  that  of  the  triumphant 
British  under  the  Duke  of  WcUington,  at  Badajoz. 

That  I  may  avoid  the  cliarge  of  exaggeration  in  de- 
scribing tho  conduct  of  the  latter  on  that  occasion,  I  will 
subjoin  the  narration  of  it,  by  the  author  of  a  recent 
English  work,  devoted  to  the  eulogy  of  the  great 
Dnkc.  . 

The  most  of  my  readers  will  probably  recollect,  that 
during  the  siege  of  Badajoz,  Lord  Wellington  promised 
his  soldiers  that  if  they  would  capture  the  place,  they 
should  be  allowed  to  sack  and  plunder  it. 

After  a  sanguinary  conflict,  it  was  finally  taken  by 
storm,  on  the  Cth  of  Apiil,  1812  ;  and,  agreeable  to 
promise,  the  ill-fated  city  was  given  up  to  rapine 
and  outrage  for  a  period  of  one  day  and  two  nights. 

Here  follows  the  recital  of  the  savage  brutality  of  the 
British  soldiers,  as  given  by  Colonel  Maxwell,  of  the 
British  army,  in  his  own  words : 

"  No  language  can  depict  the  horrors  which  succeed  a 
storm.  The  following  vivid,  but  faithful  picture  of  Bad- 
ajoz, as  it  apjDcared  on  the  evening  after  it  had  been 
caiTied,  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  dreadful  outrages 
that  ensued. 

"  It  was  nearly  dusk,  and  the  few  hours  while  I  slept 
had  made  a  frightful  change  in  the  condition  and  tem- 
per of  the  soldiery.  In  the  morning  they  were  obedient 
to  their  officers,  and  preserved  the  semblance  of  subor- 
dination ;  now  they  were  in  a  state  of  furious  intoxica- 
tion ;  discipline  was  forgotten,  and  the  splendid  troops 
of  yesterday  had  become  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  rabble, 
dead  to  every  touch  of  human  feeling,  and  filled  with 
every  demoniac  passion  that  can  brutalize  the  man. 
The  town  was  in  terrible  confusion,  and  ,  u  every 
side  frightful  tokens  of  military  license  met  the  eye. 


11815. 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


345 


triumphant 
idajoz. 
ition  in  cle- 
ision,  I  will 
of  a  recent 
f  the  great 

collGct,  that 

)n  promised 

place,  they 

Ly  taken  by 
agreeable  to 
p  to  rapine 
,\vo  nights. 
Litahty  of  the 
xwell,  of  the 

lich  succeed  a 
etiire  of  Bad- 
it  had  been 
dful  outrages 

while  I  slept 
tion  and  tcni- 
Ycre  obedient 
nee  of  suber- 
eous intoxica- 
ilendid  troops 
Ainary  rabble, 
nd  filled  with 
ize  the   man. 
,ud    -  n  every 
ict  the  eye. 


"  One  street,  as  I  approached  tlie  castle,  was  almost 
choked  up  with  broken  furniture,  for  the  houses  had 
been  gutted  from  the  cellar  to  the  garret,  the  partitions 
torn  down,  and  even  the  beds  ripped  and  scattered  to  the 
winds,  in  the  hope  that  gold  might  be  found  con- 
ceale'^ 

"A  convent*  at  the  end  of  the  strada  of  St.  John 
was  in  flames,  and  I  saw  more  than  one  wi  etched  nun 
in  the  arms  of  a  drunken  soldier. 

"  Further  on,  the  confusion  seemed  greater.  Brandy 
and  wine  casks  were  rolled  out  before  the  stores  ;  some 
were  full,  some  half-drunk,  but  more  staved  in  mere 
wantonness,  and  the  liquors  running  through  the 
kennel. 

"  Many  a  harrowing  scream  saluted  the  car  of  the 
passer-by  ;  many  a  female  supplication  was  heard  asking 
ill  vain  for  mercy.  How  could  it  be  otherwise,  when  it 
is  remembered  that  twenty  thousand  furious  and  licen- 
tious madmen  were  loosed  upon  an  immense  pojiidat ion, 
among  which  many  of  the  loveliest  women  upon  earth 
might  be  found  ? 

"  All  within  that  devoted  city  was  at  the  disposal  of 
an  infuriated  armv,  over  whom  for  a  time  control  was 
lost,  aided  by  an  infamous  collection  of  camp-followers, 
who  were,  if  possible,  more  sanguinary  and  pitiless  even 
than  those  who  had  survived  the  storm ! 

"  It  is  useless  to  dwell  upon  a  scene  from  which  the  heart 
revolts.  Few  females  in  this  beautiful  town  were  saved 
that  night  from  insult.  The  noble  and  the  beggar — the 
mm.  the  wife  and  daughter  of  the  artisan — youth  and 

*  A  general  officer,  having  received  secret  information  that  a  soldier's 
wife  had  been  robbing,  had  her  stripped  by  the  provost,  who  fonnd  on  her 
person  an  under  garment  of  red  velvet,  bordered  with  gold  lace,  six  inches 
Jeep.    This  article  had  evidently  been  the  covering  ol'a  coriinuuiion  labie. 


346 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


age — all  were  involved  in  general  ruin.  None  were  re- 
spected, and  few  consequently  escaped.  The  madness 
of  those  desperate  brigands  was  variously  exhibited  ; 
some  fired  through  doors  and  windows  ;  others  at  the 
church  bells  ;  many  at  the  wretched  inhabitants  as  they 
fled  into  the  streets  to  escape  the  bayonets  of  the  sav- 
ages, who  were  demolishing  their  property  within 
doors  ;  wliile  some  wretches,  as  if  blood  had  not  flowed 
in  sufficient  torrents  already,  shot  from  the  windows 
their  own  companions  as  they  staggered  on  below. 

"  What  chances  had  the  miserable  inhabitants  of 
escaping  death,  when  more  than  one  officer  perished  by 
the  bullets  and  bayonets  of  the  very  men  whom  a  few 
hours  before  he  had  led  to  the  assault  ? 

"  Strict  measures  were  taken  on  the  second  day  by 
Lord  Wellington  to  repress  these  desperate  excesses,  and 
save  the  infuriated  soldiery  from  the  fatal  consequences 
their  own  debauchery  produced.''' 

"  A  Portuguese  brigade  was  brought  from  the  rear, 
and  sent  into  the  town,  accompanied  by  the  provost 
marshal  and  the  gallows. 

**  This  demonstration  had  its  due  effi3ct,  and  one  rope 
carried  terror  to  rioters,  whom  the  bayonets  of  a  whole 
regiment  could  not  appal."f 

In  presenting  this  fearful  picture,  I  am  actuated  by 
no  desire  to  foment  ill-feeling  betwf^en  the  people  of  the 
two  great  nations. 

*  "  On  entering  the  cathedral,  I  saw  three  British  soldiers  literally  drowned 
in  brandy.  A  spacious  vault  had  been  converted  into  a  spirit  depot  for  the 
garrison ;  the  casks  had  been  perforated  by  musket  balls,  and  their  contents 
escaping,  formed  a  pool  of  some  depth.  These  men,  becoming  intoxicated, 
had  fallen  head-foremost  into  the  liquor,  and  were  suffocated,  as  I  found 
them." 

t  These  extracts  are  from  Maxwell's  "  Victories  of  Wellington  and  the  Brit- 
ish Armies,"  (page  258)  author  of  "Stories  of  Waterloo,"  "  The  Bivouac," 
'•  The  Life  of  Wellington,"  etc.,  etc.    London :  Henry  G.  Bohn,  1852. 


[1815. 


1815.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


347 


0  were  rc- 
e  madness 
exhibited  ; 
lers  at  the 
Jits  as  they 
)f  the  sav- 
irty   within 

not  flowed 
le  windows 
below, 
labitants  of 

perished  by 
,vhom  a  Tew 

;ond  day  by 
excesses,  and 
consequences 

om  the  rear, 
the  provost 

,nd  one  rope 
Its  of  a  whole 

actuated  by 

1  people  of  the 

.  literally  drowned 
spirit  depot  for  the 
land  their  contents 
Dming  intoxicated, 
Dcated,  as  I  found 

jigton  and  the  Brit- 
lii  n  fiie  Bivouac," 

iBobn,  1852. 


"War  is  a  sore  calamity  and  a  curse,  and  that  nation 
achieves  the  greatest  victory  which  mitigates  its  cruel- 
ties and  wrongs.  But,  while  history  records  sucli  fiend- 
ish deeds  as  I  have  cited,  and  the  liistory  of  British  In- 
dia is  one  of  unchristian  oppression  and  cruelty  by  tlie 
great  Christian  nation  of  Europe,  we  may  well  claim  for 
our  country  that  her  page,  thus  far,  is  brighter,  purer, 
clearer  than  that  of  our  motlier  country. 

The  writer  of  these  pages  arrived  at  Lisbon  a  few 
weeks  after  the  fiiU  of  Badajoz,  and  saw  great  numbers 
of  wounded  British  officers,  who  came  down  from  that 
place  to  Lisbon  for  a  change  of  air,  and  relaxation  from 
military  duty  to  recover  from  their  wounds. 

A  few  days  previous  to  the  capture  of  Badajoz,  several 
American  gentlemen  left  Lisbon  from  motives  of  curiosity 
to  witness  the  siege  of  the  unfortunate  city,  and  if  it  fell, 
they  intended  to  visit  it,  while  given  up  to  plunder anl 
rapine.  They  accordingly  saw  the  assault  and  sur- 
render of  the  place,  and  the  next  day  visited  tho 
town. 

The  most  of  these  gentlemen  have  since  died,  there 
is,  however,  one  of  them  still  living  in  New  York  City, 
Alexander  Hamilton,  Esq.  Tliis  gentleman  not  only 
confirms  all  the  revolting  scenes  related  by  Colonel  Max- 
well, but  adds,  as  an  eye  witness,  many  other  heart- 
rending sights,  which  are  enough  to  freeze  the  bloo  1 
with  horror. 

After  my  severe  remarks  on  the  English,  some  of  my 
readers  may  accuse  me  of  being  prejudiced  against  them. 
It  is  true  that  my  father,  in  the  revolutionary  war,  was 
a  prisoner  for  several  months  on  board  the  Jersey  Prison 
Ship,  in  New  York,  and  that  I  had  a  brother  who  was  a 
prisoner  in  1812,  at  Dartmoor,  during  the  massacre  ; 
still  I  think  I  can  do  the  English  justice,  and  herewith 


?AS 


THE    AMERICAN   PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


cliiilleiige  the  world  to  name  a  single  instance  in  this 
history,  where  I  have  deviated  from  the  truth  in  the 
smallest  degree. 

PRIZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS. 

Brig  Lady  Trowbridge,  8  guns,  208  tons,  with  a  car- 
go of  live  stock,  from  the  Cape  do  Yerds  for  Barbadoes, 
captured  by  the  brig  Ino,  of  Boston,  and  burnt.  This 
vessel  was  captured  and  destroyed  within  two  miles  of 
the  Island  of  Barbadoes,  and  within  view  of  the  British 
vessels-of-war,  lying  at  Bridgetown.  The  Ino  was  lost 
off  Charleston,  the  particulars  are  interesting,  and  are  as 
follows :  - 


EXTRACTED  FROM  A  CHARLESTON  PAPER. 

"  Charleston,  March  1th. — The  officers  of  the  Ino 
reached  town  yesterday  morning,  from  Bull's  Bay,  and 
politely  furnished  the  editor  of  the  City  Gazette,  with 
the  subjoined  particulars  of  the  cruise,  and  subsequent 
destruction  of  said  vessel.  The  name  of  the  reef  on 
which  the  Ino  struck,  is  Racoon  Key.  Her  crew,  82  in 
number,  arrived  here  yesterday,  having  come  from  the 
scene  of  their  shipwreck  on  foot.  The  Ino  belonged  to 
Boston,  and  was  owned  by  the  Hon.  William  Gray. 

"  It  is  to  be  observed,  that  on  Friday  last,  the  3d  in- 
stant, twelve  days  had  elapsed  since  the  date  of  the  Pre- 
sident's proclamation,  and  thirteen  since  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  of  peace,  which  by  one  of  its  articles,  allows 
twelve  days  to  put  an  end  to  hostilities  on  our  coast,  of 
which  circumstance  the  captain  of  the  Severn  could  not 
but  be  informed  ;  and  yet  he  drove  the  Ino  on  shore, 
and  made  prisoners  of  two  of  her  crew.  This  may  be 
peaceable  and  friendly  conduct  in  the  vocabulary  of 
John  Bull,  but  it  is  very  different  in  that   of  Ameri- 


ISl.').] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


349 


cans.    We  hope  it  is  the  last  act  of  the  kind  we  sliall 
hear  of." 

"  '  March  1th. — Early  in  the  morning  in  10  ftithoms 
water,  off  Charleston,  standing  in,  discovered  a  largo 
ship  at  anchor  off  the  bar,  wind  light  at  N.N.E.,  hanled 
close  on  the  wind,  starboard-tacks  aboard.  Tlic  ship, 
which  we  soon  discovered  to  be  a  frigate,  weighed  and 
stood  for  us,  and  by  the  shifting  of  tlie  wind,  hemmed 
us  in  between  her  and  the  shore  ;  after  making  every 
exertion  with  sweeps,  etc.,  to  get  clear,  found  that  tlie 
frigate,  by  the  help  of  her  boats,  and  a  breeze,  wliich 
sprung  up  from  the  offing,  came  so  fast  upon  us,  that  we 
could  neither  get  into  Charleston,  nor  weatlier  away 
Cape  Romain,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  bear  up,  and 
endeavor  to  get  into  Bull's  Bay,  in  which  attempt  the 
Ino  unfortunately  struck  upon  a  reef.  On  this  being 
perceived,  the  frigate  immediately  sent  her  boats  to  at- 
tack us,  but  by  a  few  well-directed  rounds  of  grape  and 
canister,  they  were  forced  to  retire.  In  the  night  the 
Ino  bilged,  and  threatening  to  go  to  pieces,  we  (having 
lost  our  boats  some  days  before)  proceeded  to  construct 
rafts,  to  transport  ourselves  on  shore.  At  4  a.  m.  cut 
away  our  masts,  she  being  in  a  very  dangerous  condition, 
and  laying  on  her  beam  ends.  At  daylight  discovered 
the  frigate  at  anchor,  and  her  boats  pulling  for  us — pre- 
pared to  receive  them,  when  within  grape  range,  hoisted 
our  flag  on  a  pike-staff,  and  gave  them  a  broadside  of 
grape  and  canister  ;  on  which  they  precipitately  hauled 
off.  We  then  manned  our  rafts,  and  set  fire  to  the  Ino. 
At  2  p.  M.  she  blew  up. 

"  '  While  at  the  most  imminent  hazard  of  our  lives,  our 
rafts  torn  to  pieces  by  the  breakers,  and  part  of  us  swim- 
ming, they  again  came  in  with  their  boats,  and  valiantly 
took  two  poor  fellows,  who  were  swimming  for  their  lives. 


350 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


and  carried  them  off.  Wc  finally  succeeded  in  getting 
on  a  sand  bar,  from  which  miplcasant  situation  we  were 
relieved  by  the  humanity  of  Captain  John  Phillips,  of 
Chjirleston,  conmianding  a  small  schooner  lying  in  the 
bay.  The  officers  of  the  Ino,  for  the  present,  forbear 
making  any  comments  on  this  extraordinary  transaction, 
but  merely  observe  that  they  had  no  idea  of  peace  having 
taken  place,  but  have  ascertained  that  the  captahi  of 
the  frigate  Severn  had  known  it  for  many  days.'  " 

British  ship  Mary  and  Susan,  470  tons,  with  an  im- 
mense cargo  of  dry-goods,  etc.,  from  London  for  Ja- 
maica, captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  sent  into  Savannah. 
The  Mary  and  Susan  was  a  fine  vessel,  and  her  cargo 
very  valuable. 

The  schooner  Arrow,  from  Catalonia  for  London,  with 
100  casks  of  almonds,  1650  casks  of  hazel-nuts,  sent 
into  Salem,  by  the  America  of  that  port.  The  Arrow 
was  captured  January  22d  and  the  America  had  previ- 
ously made  several  valuable  prizes  on  the  same  cruise. 

Ship  Adventure  for  Havana,  with  a  valuable  assorted 
cargo,  captured  by  the  Chasseur,  and  ordered  for  Charles- 
ton, but  she  was  unfortunately  re-captured  by  the  Sev- 
ern frigate.  We  call  her  a  good  prize,  however,  because 
her  most  valuable  effects  were  taken  out  by  the  Chas- 
seur, and  in  this  way  secured. 

Schooner  Robert,  from  Portsmouth,  England,  for  St. 
Michael's,  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and  de- 
stroyed. 

Sloop  Jubilee,  from  Teneriffe,  for  Jersey,  with  wine 
and  barilla,  captured  by  the  same,  divested  of  a  few 
pipes  of  wine,  and  destroyed. 

Ship  Emulation,  captured  by  the  Syren  privateer,  and 
put  into  Gracioso,  Western  Isles,  where,  it  is  said,  she 
was  abandoned  by  her  prize-crew  > 


[1816. 

3d  in  getting 
tion  we  were 
11  Phillips,  of 
lying  in   the 
ssent,  forbear 
^  transaction, 
peace  having 
e  captahi  of 
days.'  " 
5,  with  an  im- 
)ndon  for  Ja- 
nto  Savannah, 
nd  her  cargo 

'London,  with 

zel-nuts,    sent 

.     The  Arrow 

ca  had  previ- 

same  cruise. 

luable  assorted 

led  for  Charles- 

jd  by  the  Sev- 

ever,  because 

by  the  Chas- 

kgland,  for  St. 
alem,  and  de- 
ley,  with  wine 
Isted  of  a  few 

Iprivateer,  and 
lit  is  said,  she 


1815.1 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEKHS. 


351 


British  ship ,  captured  by  the  McDonough,  of 

Rhode  Island,  and  burnt. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LOG-BOOK  OF  THE    McDONOUfiH. 

^^  Jan.  2>\st. — At  12  m.  discovered  a  large  ship  under 
our  lea,  making  signals,  about  two  leagues  distant,  show- 
ing two  tiers  of  ports.  At  1  o'clock,  r.  m.,  ed^^ed  down 
for  her,  and  discovered  her  lower  battery  to  be  false  ; 
immediately  prepared  for  action.  At  2  o'clock,  bore  up 
for  his  weather  quarter,  and  hoisted  our  colors  ;  the  en- 
emy at  the  same  time  hauUng  up  his  courses,  and  lying  by 
for  us.  At  half  past  two  commenced  the  action  within 
musket  shot,  observing  the  enemy  to  fire  7  gvms  from 
his  broadside,  besides  swivels,  with  a  trcmondoui-  shower 
of  musketry,  which  led  us  to  suppose  her  to  ])c  a  troop 
ship,  in  which  we  were  not  mistaken.  At  half  past  ihree, 
passed  close  under  her  bows  to  rake  licr,  when  we  dis- 
covered her  decks  full  of  soldiers,  who  gave  us  a  tremen- 
dous volley.  At  three  quarters  past  throe,  our  braces, 
bowlines  and  haulyards,  being  all  shot  away,  our  sails 
literally  cut  to  pieces,  rigging  much  damaged,  and  two 
guns  dismounted,  11  men  wounded,  7  severely,  7  shot 
in  our  hull,  our  fore  and  main  masts  badly  wounded,  our 
stern  boat  had  two  1 8  pound  shot  through  her,  the 
enemy  being  far  superior  to  us  in  point  of  metal,  hav- 
ing eighteen  nine  pounders,  and  at  least  300  soldiers, 
besides  her  crew,  thought  it  prudent  to  haul  off.  Our 
enemy  having  suffered,  to  appearance,  bore  away  for 
Teneriffe,  with  some  of  her  people  slung  over  the  sides, 
stopping  shot  holes.  At  3  a.m.  tacked  ship  to  the  S.W., 
all  hands  employed  repairing  sails,  rigging,  gun  carriages, 
and  other  damages."  The  McDonough  arrived  at  Savan- 
nah, March  7th. 

Schooner  Ceres,  from  Newfoundland  for  Dublin,  cargo 


352 


THE   amehican    privateers. 


flSlfl. 


15,000  gallons  of  oil,  captured  by  the  Roiudcor,  of  Bos- 
ton, and  destroyed. 

Schooner  William,  of  London,  from  Wliitc-IIavcn  for 
St.  Michaels,  in  ballast,  captured  by  the  same,  and 
burnt. 

Sloop  Unity,  from  Lisbon  for  Brook-IIavcn,  with 
oranges,  captured  by  the  same,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to 
get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Daphne,  2  guns,  200  tons,  with  a  full  cargo,  for 
London,  captured  by  the  sauic,  divested  of  a  quantity  of 
cloves,  etc.,  manned  and  ordered  to  a  port  in  the  United 
States. 

The  Reindeer  also  captured  another  valuable  brig, 
name  not  given,  which  she  manned  and  ordered  to  a 
port  in  the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Young  Wasp  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
laden  with  valuable  goods,  from  a  successful  cruise  off 
the  coasts  of  England  and  Spain,  and  fnmi  thence  ofT  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  around  the  island  of  St.  Helena. 
She  was  one  hundred  and  seventy  da3's  absent,  and 
made  eight  prizes  ;  the  most  of  them  valuable.  She 
had  three  engagements  with  the  enemy.  The  first  with 
a  well  armed  and  manned  letter-of-marque  ship,  which 
she  mistook  for  a  sloop-of-war,  and  hauled  off.  The 
second  with  a  man-of-war  brig  ;  they  soon  separjited. 
The  third  with  the  ship  Clarendon,  of  14  guus  and  50 
men,  from  Batavia,  bound  for  Londou,  with  a  valuable 
cargo.  With  this  ship  the  privateer  had  a  battle  for  a 
short  time,  when  the  enemy  surrendered.  In  this 
ad'air  the  Wasp  had  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded. 

She  manned  the  Clarendon  and  ordered  her  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  first  port  in  the  United  States,  and  then  con- 
tinued on  her  cruise.  She  also  captured  the  Engli^sh 
brig  Plutus,  from  London  for  Teneriflfe,  Avith  an  assorted 


(181.0. 

Leer,  of  Bori- 

le-llavcn  for 
}  same,    and 

Haven,    with 
t  cartel  of,  to 

full  cargo,  for 
a  quantity  of 
in  the  United 

valuable  brig, 
ordered  to  a 

J  Philadelpliia, 
5sful  cruif^e  oH' 
1  thence  off  tho 
[I  of  St.  Helena. 
s  absent,   and 
aluable.     She 
The  first  \YitU 
^ue  ship,  which 
,uledoff.     Tlie 
icon  separated. 
4  guns  and  50 
with  a  valuable 
a  battle  for  a 
red.      In   this 
two  wounded, 
■cdher  to  pro- 
Is,  and  then  con- 
ed the  English 
ith  an  assorted 


1815.] 


THE     AMERICAN     I'UIVATEER.S. 


3oa 


cargo.  The  privateer  divested  her  prize  of  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  her  cargo,  when  an  English  frigate  liovc  in 
sight,  which  obliged  her  to  abandon  her  prize  and  make 
her  escape.  Subsequently  she  captured  the  ship  Mary 
Ann,  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  bound  for  Malacca, 
and  after  divesting  her  of  sundry  articles,  allowed  her  to 
proceed  on  her  voyage. 

During  this  cruise,  the  Wasj)  traversed  a  space 
of  30,000  miles,  and  with  but  little  loss. 

Brig  Lord  Duncan,  from  Liverpool  for  Bermuda, 
captured  by  the  Morgiana,  of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Cossack,  C  guns,  from  Cork,  for  Jamaica,  cap- 
tured by  the  same,  divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get 
rid  of  her  prisoners. 

Schooner  Resolution,  with  sugar,  molasses,  etc., 
sent  into  a  southern  port  by  the  Kemp,  of  ]5altimore. 

Sloop ,  captured  by  the  same,  in  the  West  Indies, 

divested,  and  given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

Ship  Otway,  3  guns,  from  Liverpool  for  Jamaica,  with 
a  rich  cargo  of  British  goods  and  sundries,  captured  by 
the  same,  divested  of  as  many  goods  as  the  privateer 
could  stow  away,  manned  and  ordered  her  into  port. 

The  Kemp  arrived  safe  at  Baltimore  with  200  bales 
and  packages  of  British  goods,  1,800  stand  of  arms,  and 
sundry  other  articles  of  merchandize. 

The  Kemp  captured  a  British  brig  (name  not  given), 
mounting  14  guns,  with  40  men,  after  a  warm  action  of 
forty  minutes,  when  the  enemy  struck  his  colors.  Di- 
vested the  prize  of  sundry  articles,  and  manned  her  for 
the  United  States. 

In  this  action  the  Kemp  had  one  man  killed  and  two 
wounded. 

On  board  of  the  brig  there  were  two  killed  and  eight 
wounded. 

23 


354 


THK    AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS. 


[1815 


Soon  after  the  capture  of  this  vessel,  the  prize  crew 
were  obliged  to  abandon  her,  being  closely  pursued  by 
a  British  ship-of-vvar.  They  were  obliged  to  take  to 
their  boats  and  return  to  the  privateer. 

Brig  Alexander,  captured  by  the  Leo,  of  Baltimore, 
and  cast  away  near  Ferrol,  while  entering  that  port  in  a 
heavy  gale  of  wind. 

Brig  Eagle,  captured  by  the  Lawrence,  of  Baltimore  ; 
afterwards  re-captured  and  wrecked.  She  was  chiefly 
laden  with  dry-goods. 

The  British  ship  Arabella,  of  Calcutta,  was  captured 
by  the  letter- of- marque  ship  Rambler,  of  Boston,  on  her 
passage  to  Canton,  and  carried  into  Macao.  A  letter 
from  Captain  Edes,  of  the  Rambler,  dated  at  Canton, 
December  Cth,  says  : — "  Our  prize  (tlie  ship  Arabella) 
arrived  at  Macao  the  same  day  we  arrived  at  Can- 
ton, and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  Portu- 
guese government,  and  given  up  to  the  British  Ad- 
miral on  this  station.  1  have  protested  against  this 
proceeding,  and  hope  a  proper  representation  will  be 
made  to  the  Portuguese  government,  who  ought,  in  jus- 
tice, to  pay  us  the  amount  she  was  insured  for,  at  Cal- 
cutta (60,000  rupees),  eighteen  days  out.  I  also  cap- 
tured the  British  brig  Madeira,  took  out  76  casks  of 
wine,  and  gave  her  up." 

Ship  Anne,  417  tons,  —  guns,  25  men,  with  a  great 
cargo  of  mahogany,  logwood  and  fustic  ;  coppered,  and 
in  fine  order,  captured  by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  of  Bal- 
timore, after  a  shght  resistance,  and  sent  into  New 
York. 

English  brig  Crown  Prince,  with  a  cargo  of  merino 
wool,  sent  into  Sedgewick,  by  the  Portsmouth,  of  Ports- 
mouth. The  value  of  this  prize  was  supposed  to  be 
$300,000. 


[1815 

5  prize  crow 
^  pursued  by 
1  to  take  to 

Df  Baltimore, 
that  port  in  a 

of  Baltimore  ; 
tie  was  chiefly 

,  was  captured 
Boston,  on  her 
,cao.     A  letter 
ted  at  Canton, 
ship  Arabella) 
irrived  at  Can- 
by    the   Portu- 
hc   British  Ad- 
ted  against  this 
■"  be 


1816.] 


THE    AMKRICAN    rillVATEERS. 


366 


jntation 


will 


10  ought,  m  jus- 
red  for,  at  Cal- 
it.     I  also  cap- 
lout  75  casks  of 


in, 


with  a  great 


ioppered 


and 


Ultor,  of  Bal- 
sent  into  New 

cargo  of  merino 
Imouth,  of  Ports- 
to  be 


su 


pposed 


British  bri^j;  Juno,  a  transport,  captured  by  the  same, 
divested,  and  made  a  cartel  of,  to^et  rid  of  prisoners. 

Brig  Ocean,  from  Moriniadii  for  fllaf^gow,  laden  with 
timber,  captured  by  the  samo,  and  l)urnt. 

Brig  Langton,  from  Ki(',hiebu(;to,  N.  S.,  for  Scotland, 
captured  by  the  same,  and  ransomed. 

Brig  Adeona,  with  450  bales  and  i)ackagos  of  broad- 
cloths, etc.,  captured  by  the  America,  of  Salem,  and  sent 
into  that  port,  this  was  a  very  valual)l(^  prize. 

Schooner  Sultan,  laden  with  cocoa,  captured  by  the 
Morgiana,  of  New  York,  and  sent  into  Wilming- 
ton, N.  C. 

Brig  Sarah,  for  Alicant,  with  codfish,  captured  by  the 
Warrior  of  New  York,  and  burnt. 

Brig  Legal  Tender,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  captured 
by  the  David  Porter,  and  recaptured  by  the  Spencer  74, 
on  the  7th  of  March. 

Ship  Antigua,  320  tons,  with  a  full  cargo  of  West 
India  produce,  was  captured  off  the  Western  Islands  by 
the  Fox,  of  Portsmouth,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

Ship  City  of  Limerick,  with  a  very  valuable  cargo, 
from  London  for  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Morgiana,  of 
New  York,  and  ordered  into  port,  after  having  been 
divested  of  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo. 

Brig  Helen,  from  London  for  Jamaica,  laden  with  dry- 
goods  and  iron,  captured  by  the  same,  and  ordered  into 
port. 

We  accounted  these  good  prizes,  for  the  Morgiana 
arrived  with  property  valued  at  $230,000,  which  she 
took  out  of  her  prizes. 

Schooner  Perseverance,  from  Grranada  for  Demarara, 
[cptured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Brig  John,  from  Martinique  for  Antigua,  captured  by 
[the  same,  and  burnt. 


866 


THE    AMERICAN    riUVATKEUS . 


[1816, 


Brig  Maria  Annabclla,  from  Dublin  for  St.  Kitts,  cap- 
tured by  the  Zebec  Ultor,  diveated  of  a  few  Irisli  linens, 
and  burnt.  ller  cargo  consi.sted  cliielly  of  provi- 
sions. 

Sloops  TwiuH  and  I'Espiranco,  captured  by  the  sauie, 
divOHted,  and  given  up. 

Sloop  Constitution,  from  St.  Barts  for  ^  *nmica,caj)- 
tured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Hrig  Mohawk,  of  Jamaica,  captured  by  the  Zeboc 
Ultor.  We  account  this  a  fortunate  circumstance,  bciiii; 
a  good  i)rize  by  the  terms  of  the  treaty  ;  she  safely 
arrived  in  i)ort. 

Ship  ,  captured   by   the    letter-oi-nijii-(iuo   sliip 

Jacob  Jones,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  to  Canton,  ami 
divested  of  $G0,000  worth  of  opium,  etc.,  and  then  sunt 
her  to  a  port  in  tlie  United  States. 

Brig  Baltic,  ciii)tured  by  the  Grand  Turk,  of  Salem: 
recaptured  by  the  British,  and  since  lost,  "^he  had  a  car- 
go of  sweet  oil. 

Cutter  Sloop  Busy,  of  Guernsey,  from  ^  ./mouth  for 
St.  Michaels,  with  potatoes,  captured  by  the  America  ol^ 
Salem,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Black  Joke,  of  London,  for  Terceira,  with 
coal,  porter,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  and  burnt. 

Packet  ship  Elizabeth,  in  ballast,  8  guns,  31  men, 
captured  by  the  same,  after  a  short  battle,  in  which  the 
Elizabeth  had  2  men  killed,  and  13  wounded,  and  was 
literally  cut  to  pieces,  her  masts,  spars,  hull,  and  sails 
being  penetrated  by  more  than  700  shot,  while  the 
America  received  no  injury, either  in  men,  rigging,  or  hull. 
The  Elizabeth  was  divested  of  lier  armament,  and  given 
up  to  her  original  crew.  She  was  bound  from  Rio  Ja- 
neiro to  Falmouth,  England.  Beside  the  foregoing  anJ 
two  others,  the  America  captured  and  manned  a  verv 


ISld.J 


THE    AMKUIfAN    I'UIVATKKUS. 


867 


valual)lc  ship,  from  Ilio  JiUKuro,  and  a  lni<^  laden  with 
sii^'ar,  .from  Antigua  lor  (ihis^^ow.  '["ho  Anicrica  had 
on  hoard  more  than  $10,000  worth  of  valualtlo  ^oodn, 
takon  out  of  her  j)ri/eH  at  wea.  This  forlnnate  ship  safely 
arrived  at  Salem  on  the  1 0th  of  April,  after  a  cruise  of 
134  days,  without  losing  a  single  num  either  hy  sick- 
ness or  casualty.  Ft  is  stated  that  she  hud,  ^ning  the 
war,  cleared  more  than  $000, 000  for  her  owners. 

The  privateer  Avon,  of  11  guns,  was  captured  by  the 
British  ))rig  Jiarhadoes,  of  1 7  guns,  after  a  warm  action  of 
an  hour  and  a  half,  th(«  Brit  ishl)rig-of-war(\)hnnl)ine  being 
within  three  miles  in  chase,  and  conung  up.  The  Avon 
had  one  nnin  killed,  and  four  wounded,  the  IJarbadoes 
one  killed,  and  three  wounded.  Twenty-two  of  the  best 
men  belonging  to  the  former  were  absent  at  the  time  of 
the  fight,  in  a  small  sloop,  for  the  purjxjso  of  cutting 
vessels  out  from  St.  Kitts.  The  sh^op  was  also  ca^jtured 
by  the  British  the  next  day. 

The  privateer  Hyder  Ali,  Captniu  Thorndiko,  of  Bos- 
ton, was  captured  in  th<  East  fnibes,  by  the  British 
frigate  Owen  Glendowcr.  She  had  been  chased  for 
three  days  by  the  Salsetta,  i  'gate,  from  which  sliip  she 
escaped,  but  in  so  doing,  the  privateer  was  driven  with- 
in gun-shot  of  the  Owen  Glendower,  which  ship  soon 
brought  her  within  the  reach  of  her  musketry,  when  she 
was  obliged  to  surrender.  She  had,  previous  to  her 
capture,  made  nine  prizes,  which  vessels  were  unfor- 
tunately recaptured. 

The  famous  privateer  Prince,  of  Ncufchatel,  was  cap- 
tured and  sent  into  England. 

An  American  letter-of-marque  schooner,  a  fast  sailing 
vessel,  arrived  at  Canton  in  December,  1814,  with  a 
cargo  of  seal  skins,  valued  at  $300,000.     These  skins 


358 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


tl815. 


were  taken  from  the  Fcjee,  and  other  islands  in  the 
Pacific. 

She  was  out  of  the  influence  of  the  war,  and  made  a 
very  successful  voyage. 

British  schooner,  name  not  given,  captured  by  the 
Fox  privateer  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  ;  after  divesting  tl.  - 
prize  of  the  valuable  part  of  her  cargo,  destroyed  her. 
This  privateer  annoyec!  the  enemy  during  the  whole  of 
the  war,  and  arrived  safe  at  Portsmouth,  after  having 
made  seven  successful  cruises. 

Schooner  John  and  Ann,  from  Halifax  for  the  West 
Indies,  captured  by  the  Youn^^  Wasp,  of  Philadelphia, 
manned,  but  lost  on  Ocracock  bar,  N.  C. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  GALLANT  ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  THE  HEROIC 
CAPTAIN  THOMAS  BOYLE,  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  BRIG  CHAS- 
SEUR, OF  BALTIMORE,  ON  HIS  LAST  CRUISE  IN  THE  BRITISH 
CHANNEL,  AND  AMONG  THE  WEST  INDIA  ISLANDS,  IN  THE 
WINTERS   OF   1814   AND    1815. 

The  Chasseur  was  a  very  formidable  vessel,  carrying 
sixteen  long  twelve  ^/ounders,  and  at  the  commencement 
v>f  d  cruise  her  crew  probably  amounted  to  one  hundred 
men,  including  officers,  seamen,  andmori..3s. 

Here  follows  a  list  of  prizes  made  by  this  distinguished 
commander.  This  list  is  a  portion  (by  no  means  alH 
of  his  captures,  during  a  period  of  three  months. 

Sloop  Ohristiana,  of  Kilkadee,  Scotland,  made  a  cartel 
of  her,  to  disembarrass  him  from  prisoners 

Brig  Reindeer,  of  Aberdeen,  from  the  Island  of  Lan- 
zarote  for  London,  with  a  cargo  of  wine  and  barriJia; 
manned  her  for  the  United  States. 

Schooner  Favorite,  also  from  Lanzarote,  bound  for 
London,  with  a  similar  cargo. 

Brig  Marquis   of  Cornwallis,  from  the  same  island, 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


359 


bound  also  for  London.  This  vessel,  being  of  small 
value,  was  made  a  cartel  of,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

English  brig  Alert,  of  Poole,  from  Newfoundland, 
with  a  cargo  of  timber,  taken  and  destroyed. 

Brig  Harmony,  of  Aberdeen,  from  Newfoundlaud, 
bound  for  London,  made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  be  relieved 
from  prisoners. 

Ship  Carlbury,  of  London,  from  Jamaica,  with  a  very 
valuable  cargo  of  cotton,  cocoa,  hides,  indigo,  etc., 
divested  her  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ceroons  of 
indigo,  and  manned  her  for  the  United  States.  The 
goods  taken  from  this  prize  were  estimated  at  fifty  thou- 
«and  dollars. 

Brig  Eclipse,  a  valuable  vessel  of  fourteen  guns,  sent 
to  New  York,  at  which  place  she  arrived  safe. 

Brig  Commerce,  also  a  valuable  vessel,  laden  with  fish, 
ordered  her  to  proceed  to  the  LTnited  States. 

Brig  Antelope,  carrying  eight  eighteen  pound  carron- 
nades,  with  a  long  tom,  from  Havana,  laden  with  nine 
hundred  boxes  of  sugar ;  she  made  no  resistance,  and 
was  also  sent  to  the  United  States. 

British  schooner  Fox  from  Newfoundland,  laden  with 
fish  for  the  Mediterranean,  sent  her  to  the  United 
States. 

Ship  James,  of  London,  with  twelve  guns  and  twenty 
men  from  the  river  La  Plata,  with  hides,  tallow,  bark, 
furs,  etc. 

Brig  Atlantic,  also  of  London,  with  eight  guns  and 
fifteen  men,  from  the  river  La  Plata,  loaded  with  a 
similar  cargo.  The  James  and  the  Atlantic  were  in 
company,  and  were  both  captured  and  manned  for  the 
United  States. 

Ship  Theodore,  of  Liverpool,  with  eight  guns,  from 
Marenham,  with  1,600  bales  of  cotton,  etc.,  etc. 


360 


TUE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


Brig  Amicus  of  Liverpool,  from  Ijisbon,  with  wool, 
fruit,  and  two  balos  of  woollen  goods. 

Besides  the  vessels  alrendy  enumerated  there  were 
others,  whose  names  are  not  noticed  in  this  list.  The 
whole  number  of  vessels  cajitured  by  Captain  Boyle,  on 
this  cruise,  was  eighteen,  and  many  of  them  very  valua- 
ble. Captain  B.  brought  into  port  forty-three  prisoners, 
and  paroled  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Had  the  Chasseur 
been  a  United  States  vessel,  acting  under  orders  to  burn, 
sink,  and  destroy  all  prizes,  the  loss  to  the  enemy  by 
this  brig  alone,  would  have  exceeded  a  million  and  a 
half  of  dollars.  Although  many  of  these  prizes  were 
probably  ro-captured,  still  the  Chasseur  must  have  made 
a  very  profitable  cruise,  for  all  who  were  concerned  in 
this  very  fortunate  privateer. 

During  Captain  Boyle's  cruise  in  the  British  Channel 
and  around  the  coast  of  Great  Britain,  he  had  many  hair- 
breadth escapes.  He  was  once  so  near  a  frigate  as  par- 
tially to  exchange  broadsides  with  her.  At  anothei- 
time  he  was  nearly  surrounded  by  two  frigates  and  two 
brigs-of-war,  and,  in  hauling  off  to  avoid  them,  one  of 
the  frigates  threw  a  shot  on  board  of  his  brig,  and 
woimded  three  men  ;  he,  however,  at  length  made  his 
escape,  and  out-manoouvred  and  out-sailed  them  all. 

At  this  period,  it  was  the  general  custom  for  the  Brit- 
ish admirals  on  our  coast  to  issue  what  the  Americans 
called  paper-blockades,  declaring  nt,arly  the  whole  coast 
of  North  America  in  a  strict  state  of  blockade,  which,  to 
have  done  efifectually,  would  have  required  all  the  ships 
in  the  world  Several  of  these  blockade-proclamations 
had  recently  been  issued  by  Admiral  Sir  John  Borlaise 
Warren  and  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane. 

As  a  burlesque  on  these  paper-blockades.  Captain 
Boyle,  while  in  the  British  Channel,  issued  the  follow- 


#M-- 


[1815. 

with  wool, 

there  were 
s  Ust.     The 
in  Boyle,  on 
.  very  valua- 
ee  prisoners, 
the  Chasseur 
•derstoburn, 
e  enemy  by 
lillion  and  a 
I  prizes  were 
st  have  made 

concerned  in 

ritish  Channel 
lad  many  hair- 
frigate  as  par- 
At  another 
gates  and  two 
them,  one  of 
his  brig,  and 
tgth  made  his 
them  all. 
for  the  Brit- 
;he  Americans 
c  whole  coast 
ade,  which,  to 
all  the  ships 
proclamations 
ohn  Borlaise 

ides.   Captain 
id  the  foUow- 


1815.] 


THE   AMERICAN    nilVATEERS. 


3G1 


ing  proclamation,  and  sent  it  by  a  cartel  to  London, 
with  a  request  to  have  it  posted  up  at  Loyd's  Coffoe 
House  : 

By  Thomas  Boyle,  Esquire,  Commander  of  the  private- 
armed  brig  Chasseur,  etc.,  etc. 

PROOLAIIATION. 

Whereas  it  has  become  customary  with  the  Admirals 
of  Great  Britain,  commanding  small  forces  on  the  coast 
of  the  United  States,  particularly  with  Sir  John  Borlaise 
Wan-en  and  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  to  declare  all  the 
coast  of  the  said  United  States  in  a  state  of  strict  and 
rigorous  blockade,  without  possessing  tlic  powci-  to  jus- 
tif}'  such  a  declaration,  or  stationing  an  adequate  force 
to  maintain  said  blockade. 

I  do,  therefore,  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority 
in  me  vested  (possessing  sufficient  force),  declare  all  the 
ports,  harbors,  bays,  creeks,  rivers,  inlets,  outlets,  islands 
and  sea  coast  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  in  a  state  of  strict  and  rigorous  blockade. 

And  I  do  further  declare,  that  I  consider  the  force 
under  my  command  adequate  to  maintain  strictly,  rigor- 
ously and  effectually,  the  said  blockade. 

And  I  do  hereby  require  the  respective  officers, 
whether  captains,  commanders,  or  commanding  officers, 
under  my  command,  employed  or  to  be  employed,  on 
the  coasts  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland,  to  pay 
strict  attention  to  the  execution  of  this  my  proclama- 
tion. 

And  I  do  hereby  caution  and  forbid  the  ships  and  ves- 
sels of  all  and  every  nation,  in  amity  and  peace  with  the 
United  States,  from  entering  or  attempting  to  enter,  or 
from  coming  or  attempting  to  come  out  of  any  of  the 


362 


THE    AMEUICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


said  ports,  harbors,  bays,  creeks,  rivers,  inlets,  outlets, 
islands,  or  sea  coast,  under  any  pretence  whatsoever. 

And  that  no  person  may  plead  ignorance  of  this,  my 
proclamation,  I  have  ordered  the  same  to  be  made  public 
in  England. 

Given  under  my  hand  on  board  the  Chasseur,  day  and 
date  as  above. 

THOMAS  BOYLE. 

(By  command  of  the  commanding  officer.) 

J.  J.  Stanbury,  Secretary. 


LETTER  FROM  CAPTAIN  BOYLE,  TO  MR.  GEORGE  P.  STEPHENSON,  ONE 
OF  THE  OWNERS  OF  THE  CHASSEUR. 

At  Sea,  March  2d,  1815. 
Dear  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  on 
the  26th  of  February,  being  about  six  leagues  to  wind- 
ward of  Havana,  and  two  leagues  from  the  land,  at  11 
a.  m.  discovered  a  schooner  bearing  N.E.  of  us,  appa- 
rently running  before  the  wind  ;  made  every  possible 
sail  in  chase,  tho  convoy  in  sight  from  the  mast  head,  to 
leew^ard,  laying-to  off  Havana.  At  meridian,  gaining 
fast  on  the  chase,  which  appeared  to  be  a  large,  long, 
low  pilot  boat  built  schooner,  with  yellow  sides  ;  she 
hauled  up  more  to  the  northward,  and  apparently  was 
endeavoring  to  escape  us.  At  half-past  12  meridian,  I 
fired  a  gun,  and  hoisted  the  American  flag,  to  ascertain, 
if  possible,  to  what  nation  the  schooner  belonged  ;  but 
she  showed  no  colors,  was  carrying  a  press  of  sail,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  carried  away  her  fore-top-mast.  She  was 
at  this  time  about  three  miles  from  us.  They  cut  away 
the  wreck  of  the  top-mast  immediately,  and  trimmed  her 
sails  sharp  by  the  wind.  At  1  p.  m.  drawing  up  with 
her  very  fast ;  she  fired  a  stern  chase  gun  at  us,  and 


[1815. 

nlcts,  outlets, 
i^hatsoever. 
le  of  this,  my 
D  made  public 

seur,  day  and 

S  BOYLE. 

Secretary. 


'EPHENSON,  ONE 


I  2d,  1815. 
you,  that  on 
;ucs  to  wind- 
e  land,  at  11 
of  us,  appa- 
verj  possible 
mast  head,  to 
lian,  gaining 
a  large,  long, 
)w  sides  ;  she 
parently  was 
I  meridian,  I 
to  ascertain, 
elonged  ;  but 
f  sail,  and  in  a 
St.  She  was 
hey  cut  away 
trimmed  her 
nng  up  with 
n  at  us,  and 


u 

UJ 


'-^  ■: 


z: 


00 


CO    : 


I- 


1816.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


303 


1. 1 


(_> 


UJ 

en 


H 
h- 


hoisted  English  colors,  showing  lit  the  same  time  only 
three  ports  on  the  side  next  us. 

Under  the  impression  that  she  was  a  running  vessel, 
bound  to  Havana,  and  weakly  armed  and  manned,  I  tried 
every  effort  to  close  with  her  as  (piick  as  possible.  I  saw 
very  few  men  on  her  deck,  and  hastily  made  some  pre- 
paration for  action,  though  neither  my  officers  nor  my- 
self expected  any  fighting  ;  of  course  we  were  not  com- 
pletely prepared  for  battle.  At  1:20  r.M.  we  were  within 
pistol  shot  of  the  enemy,  when  he  opened  a  tier  of  ten 
ports  on  a  side,  and  gave  us  his  whole  broadside  of 
round,  grape,  and  musket  balls.  I  then  opened  the 
Chasseur's  fire  from  the  great  guns  and  mu&ketry,  and 
endeavored  to  close  with  him,  for  the  purpose  of  board- 
ing ;  we  having  quick  way  at  the  time,  shot  ahead  of 
him  under  his  lea,  he  put  his  helm  up,  for  the  purpose  of 
wearing  across  our  stern,  to  give  us  a  raking  fire,  which 
I  prevented  by  timely  noticing  his  intention,  and  putting 
our  helm  hard  up  also.  He  shot  quickly  ahead,  and  I 
closed  within  ten  yards  of  him.  At  this  time  both  fires 
were  heavy,  severe,  and  destructive.  I  now  found  that 
his  men  had  been  concealed  under  his  bulwark,  and  that 
I  had  a  powerful  enemy  to  contend  with,  and  at  1:40  p.m., 
gave  the  order  for  boarding,  which  iny  brave  officers  and 
men  cheerfully  obeyed  with  unexampled  quickness  ;  I 
instantly  put  the  helm  to  starboard  to  lay  him  on  board, 
and  when  in  the  act  of  boarding  she  surrendered. 

Mr.  W.  M«  Christie,  prize-master,  from  his  courage  and 
activity,  got  first  on  board  of  her — she  proved  to  be  his 
Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  commanded 
by  Lieutenant  J.  C.  Gordon,  formerly  the  famous  priva- 
teer Atlas,  of  Philadelphia,  built  on  the  Chesapeake, 
mounting  15  guns,  14  twelve  pound  carronades,  upon  an 
improved  construction,  and  a  long  nine  pounder,  with  a 


364 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


complement  of  75  men,  and  had  on  board  a  number  of 
soldiers,  marines,  and  some  gentlemen  of  the  navy,  pas- 
sengers, bound  express  to  the  squadron  off  New  Or- 
leans. She  had,  by  t^e  report  of  her  commander,  6 
men  killed  and  17  wounded,  most  of  them  badly,  and 
several  of  them  mortally.  She  was  a  perfect  wreck,  cut 
to  pieces  in  the  hull,  and  scarcely  a  rope  left  standing, 
and  by  report  of  her  commander,  he  had  not  an  officer 
on  board,  that  was  not  either  killed  or  wounded,  him- 
self among  the  latter.  The  Chasseur's  sails  and  rigging 
suffered  much,  and  from  the  zeal  and  anxiety  of  my 
brave  crew  to  do  their  duty,  and  thereby  exposing  them- 
selves, I  had  five  men  killed,  and  eight  wounded,  myself 
among  the  latter,  though  very  slightly.  Thus  ended 
the  action,  in  fifteen  mhmtes  after  its  commencement, 
and  about  eight  minutes  close  quarters,  with  a  force,  in 
every  respect,  equal  to  our  own. 

The  Chasseur  mounted  six  twelve  pounders,  and  eight 
short  nine  pound  carronades  (the  latter  taken  from  one 
of  our  prizes),  ten  of  our  twelve  pound  carronades  hav- 
ing been  thrown  overboard,  while  hard  chased  by  the 
Barosa  frigate.  The  St.  Lawrence  had  on  board  80 
men,  beside  several  boys. 

From  the  number  of  hammocks,  bedding,  etc.,  etc., 
found  on  board  of  the  enomy,  it  led  us  to  believe  that 
many  more  were  killed  than  were  reported.  The  St. 
Lawrence  fired  double  the  weight  of  shot  that  tve  did, 
from  her  twelves,  at  close  quarters  she  fired  a  stand  of 
grape  and  two  bags,  containing  two  hundred  and  twenty 
musket  balls  each,  when,  from  the  Chasseur's  nines, 
were  fired  six  and  four  pound  shot,  having  no  other, 
except  some  few  grape.  Were  I  to  close  this  letter 
without  mentioning  the  determined  bravery  of  my  first 
lieutenant,  Mr.  John  Dieter,  I  should  be  acting  very  un- 


number  of 


1815.] 


THE     AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


365 


justly  to  my  own  feelings.     My  other  lieutenants,  Mr. 
Moran   and  Mr.   Hammond   N.  Stinsbury,    as   well  as 
every  other  officer,  behaved  with  a  firmness,  seldom,  if 
ever  equalled,  and  I  believe  never  surpassed, 
Yours,  with  respect, 

THOMAS  BOYLE. 

Mr.  O.  P.  Stephenson,  Baltimore. 


P.  P. — On  the  night  of  the  26th  the  main-top-mast  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  went  by  the  board  ;  sue  i  was  her 
wretched  condition,  and  from  motives  of  humanity,  and 
the  solicitation  of  her  commander,  I  made  a  flag  or  car- 
tel of  her  to  carry  the  wounded  to  Havana,  for 
their  better  comfort  and  convenience,  as  I  know  you 
would  wish  that  I  should  mitigate  the  sullerings  of  the 
unfortunate  wounded.  I  hope  you  will  not  be  displeased 
at  what  I  have  done,  there  was  no  other  alternative  but 
to  make  a  cartel  of  her,  or  destroy  her.  I  should  not 
willingly  perhaps,  have  sought  a  contest  with  a  king's 
vessel,  knowing  it  was  not  our  object ;  but  my  expecta- 
tions were  at  first  a  valuable  vessel  and  a  valuable 
cargo  also.  When  I  found  myself  deceived,  the  honor 
of  the  flag  entrusted  to  m}'^  charge,  was  not  to  be  dis- 
graced by  flight.  I  sent  to  the  wounded  a  parcel  of 
shirts,  and  two  bales  of  purser's  slops,  to  be  distributed 
among  them,  and  the  other  prisoners.  A  copy  of  the 
correspondence  between  the  Captain  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence and  myself  you  have  herewith  enclosed,  as  well  as 
ray  letter  to  your  friends  in  Havana. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

T.  B. 


366 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


COPY  OF  A  CERTIFICATE  TO  CAPTAIN  THOMAS  ROYLR,  FROM  THE 
COMMANDER  OF  HIS  IHtlTANNIC  MAJESTY'd  KCHOOiNER  HT.  liAW- 
RENCE  ;  DATED  AT  HEA.  FEBRUARY  27th,  1816,  ON  HOARD  THE 
UNI'l-ED  STATES  PRIVATEARMED-BRIO  CHASSEUR. 

In  tlio  event  of  Captain  Boyle's  boeoming  a  prisoner 
of  war  to  any  British  cruiser,  I  consider  it  a  tribute 
justly  due  to  his  liumane  and  generous  treatment  of 
myself,  the  surviving  oflicors  and  crew  of  Tlis  Majesty's 
late  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  to  state  that  his  obliging  at- 
tention and  watchful  solicitude  to  preserve  our  eftbcts, 
and  render  us  comfortable,  during  the  short  time  wo  were 
in  his  possession,  were  such  as  justly  entitle  him  to  the 
indulgence  and  respect  of  every  British  subject, 

T  also  certify  that  his  endeavors  to  render  us  comfort- 
able, and  to  secure  our  property,  were  carefully  seconded 
by  all  his  officers,  who  did  their  utm<^«t  to  that 
effect. 

J.  C.  GORDON, 

Lieut,  and  Com.  of  His  Majesty's  late 
Schooner  St.  Lawrence. 

"  Britannia  needs  no  bulwark, 
No  towera  along  the  steep  ; 
Her  march  is  o'er  the  mountain  waves, 
Her  home  is  on  the  deep." 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER  CHASSEUR. 

Captain  Boyle  arrived  in  Baltimore  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1815,  in  the  brig  Chasseur,  full  of  rich  goods, 
spoils  from  the  enemy,  after  a  successful  cruise  among 
the  Islands  in  the  West  Indies. 

On  entering  the  port,  the  Chasseur  saluted  Fort 
McHenry,  in  a  handsome  style.  Her  brave  captain  and 
crew  were  welcomed  by  all  classes  of  the  commu- 
nity. 


lair,.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


367 


R,  FROM  THE 
iER  HT.  I.AW- 
f  HOARD  TUB 


f  a  prisoner 
it  a  tribute 
eatmcnt  of 
s  Majesty's 
obliging  at- 
our  cfTccts, 
lie  we  were 
him  to  the 

(Ct. 

us  comfort- 
ly  seconded 
=t   to    that 

esty's  late 
ice. 


le  15th  of 
lich  goods, 
lise  among 

luted   Fort 

iptain  and 

le  commu- 


The  Chasseur  was  a  fine,  large  brig,  and  faniiliarly 
called  "  The  Pride  of  Baltimore."  She  was  indeed  a 
(nie  specimen  of  naval  architecture,  and  perhaps  tlic 
most  beautiful  vessel  that  had  floated  on  the  ocean.  She 
sat  as  light  and  buoyant  on  the  water  as  a  graceful 
swan,  and  it  required  but  very  little  help  of  the  imagin- 
ation to  feel  that  she  was  about  to  leave  her  watery  ele- 
ment, and  lly  into  the  clear,  blue  sky. 

Although  this  gallant  vessel  was  so  elegant  and  at- 
tractive to  her  friends,  she  carried  dismay  and  terror  to 
her  enemies.  During  her  last  cruise,  only  seventeen 
days  previous  to  her  arrival  in  port,  her  heroic  com- 
mander captured  His  Britannic  Majesly's  schooner  St. 
Lawrence,  mounting  15  carriage  guns,  with  a  crew  of 
75  men. 

This  action  lasted  but  15  minutes,  when  the  English- 
man surrendered  his  vessel,  having  been  completely  cut 
to  pieces.  Fifteen  of  his  crew  were  killed,  and  26 
wounded  ;  the  Chasseur  had  but  5  men  killed,  and  8 
wounded,  and  received  little  or  no  damage  in  her 
hull. 

Her  sails  and  rigging  were  somewhat  injured,  but 
were  soon  repaired,  so  that  in  a  few  hours  she  was  ready 
for  another  action. 

The  Chasseur  made  several  other  prizes  on  this  cruise, 
which  have  been  recorded  in  their  proper  places. 

On  Captam  Boyle's  return  home  to  Baltimore,  he 
heard  that  a  treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed  at  Ghent, 
by  the  Ambassadors  of  the  American  and  English  go- 
vernments. He  then  returned  to  the  peaceful  avoca- 
tions of  private  life,  to  enjoy  the  esteem  and  applause  of 
all  those  who  had  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance. 

I  cannot  conclude  my  remarks  on  Captain  Boyle's  ser- 
vices to  his  State  and  country,  without  expressing  a 


308 


TlIK    AMKUICAN    rUlVATKKUS. 


[1810. 


winli,  lliat  his  immo  may  l»e  lionorod  and  cliori.shtMl  hy 
every  Ainerioan  heart,  and  I  think  ho  in  ri(!hly  entitled 
to  a  national  moninncnt,  to  perpetnato  liis  memory  to 
tlio  latest  ^(Mierations. 

The  writer  regrets  that  he  never  had  the  pleasin'c  of 
a  personal  a('([uaintanee  with  Captain  IJoyle  ;  hnl  Ihmi 
all  he  ean  learn  of  his  ehaiaeter,  to  say  that  ho  was 
a  dashing,  hrave  man,  wonM,  in  his  case,  he  but  com- 
nion-plaee  eulogy,  for  he  was  infinitely  more  than 
that  itlea  expresses,  no  ovidenlly  possessed  many  of 
the  elements  of  a  great  man,  for  in  him  were  blended 
the  im[)etuous  bravery  of  a  Murat,  with  thi'  prudenec 
of  a  "Wellington.  Tie  wisely  judged  when  to  attack 
the  enemy,  and  when  to  retreat,  with  honor  to  him- 
.■-elf,   and  to  the  flag  under  which  he  sailed. 

The  reader  will  please  ol)servo  his  daring  bravery 
in  cruising  in  the  British  (Jhannel  ;  and  call  to  mind  his 
litany  gallant  victories,  particularly  when  in  connnand  of 
the  schooner  Comet,  in  an  action  off  Pernambuco,  with 
ii  large  Portuguese  man-of-w^ar-brig  and  three  English 
merchantmen. 

They  were  all  well-armed  and  manned,  notwith- 
standing wliich,  Captain  l^oylc  cajjturcd  the  throe  British 
vessels,  and  beat  off  the  man-of-war. 

The  details  of  this  battle  may  be  found  in  the  fourth 
chapter  of  this  work. 

In  his  last  cruise  in  the  Chasseur  he  also  captured  his 
Britannic  Majesty's  schooner  St.  Lawrence,  f»'  it  least 
equal  force  with  himself. 

And  then,  reflect  on  his  prudence  '  nt 

of  his  prizes. 

He  destroyed  the  dullest  anf^  jrest  o  uiem,  and 
sent  into  port  the  best  and  most  valuable,  after  having 
removed   the  specie,  and  all  the  most  valuable  articles 


181/5.) 


TTIR    AMERICAN    rRIVATRRRS. 


309 


ircc  Eiifflisb 


>(l,  iiotwilli- 
Itlirce  British 


into  liis  own  vcasyl,  sc  as  to  scvMiro  a  Huocos.sful  cruise  to 
Ilia  owners,  and  to  all  othwrs  concerned  in  the  enter- 
prise. 

As  fur  us  I  can  jnd;.;i\  he  (lis|tliiye(l  in  nil  his  acts  a 
sound  judgment,  beautifully  blended  with  patriotic 
bravery. 

Had  this  gentleman  been  aConnnander  in  the  United 
States  Xavy,  his  fame  and  deeds  of  valor  wt)uld  have 
b(»en  lauded  throughout  our  great  re})ublic  ;  but  as  he 
only  eoimnanded  a  privateer,  who  .^))eaka  of  him  ?  Or 
of  su(;h  men  as  Diroii,  Champlin,  Murphy,  Stallbrd, 
Wooster,  and  a  host  of  others,  who  fought  and  bled  in 
their  country's  cause. 

Is  it  not  then  narrow-minded  prejudice  not  to  award 
a  just  appreciation  of  the  services  of  the  gallant  men 
who  commanded  privateers  and  letters-of-mar((ue  du- 
ring our  severe  struggle  with  England  for  an  equal  right 
to  navigate  the  ocean,  the  great  highway  of  nations. 
For  it  must  certaiiilv  be  conceded,  that  while  contend- 
ing  with  the  enemy  at  that  period,  the  privateers  and 
private  armed  vessels  formed  in  fact  a  large  portion  of 
our  navy,  and  were  an  indispensable  auxiliary  to  it, 
as  the  militia  and  volunteers  were  to  the  United 
States  army. 


ot   cit  least 


24 


lifter  having 
able  articles 


CHAPTER    XI. 


CA'TAIN  BEII)  S  CIll'ISE — AURIVAI,  AT  FATAt- — ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  OAIJ.ANl'  DKKENCB— 
COry  OF  A  LKTTEU  FIIOM  THE  AMEIUCAN  CONSUL  AT  FATAL  TO  THK  SECRETARY  OP 
STATE  AT  WASIIINIJTOX — CAITAIN  REIU'S  ARRIVAL  AT  SAVANNAH — UIS  RECEI-TION  AT 
THAT  PLACE  -I'UULIC  DINNER  GIVEN  HIM  AT  RICHMOND,  VA. — TOASTS,  ETC. — 
CONTINUATION  OF  PRIZES  ACTER  THE  CONCLUSION  OF  PEACE — ESCAPE  OF  THE  PBI- 
V'ATEER-filUG  WARRIOR  FROM  A  BRITISH  FRIGATE  AND  A  "  HEVENTY-FOUR' ' — SHS 
ARRIVKS  AT  NEW  VOllK— llRUi  TAGIS,  FROM  SMYRNA,  CAPTURED  BY  THE  LETTER-OF- 
MARyUEBRUriH,  OF  BOSTON"  BRITISH  PACKET  WINDSOR  CASTLE,  FROM  FALMOUTH,  ENG- 
LAND, FOR  HALIFAX,  CAITURED  BY  THE  ROGER  AND  SENT  INTO  NORFOLK — TRANSPORT- 
SHIP  MOSKLY,  ( :APTUHK1>  HY  THE  LETTER-OF-MARyUE  RAMBLER,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON 
— BRITISH  BRIG  BOURWAN,  FROM  PENAXO,  WITH  A  VALUABLE  CARGO,  CAPTURED  BY  THE 
JACOB  JONES,  AND  SENT  TO  BOSTON  -EXTRACT  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  THE  PRIVATEER 
MCDONOUGH,  ATMCRLAIX,  FRANCE— PRIVATEERS  PUEPAEING  FOR  SEA,  WHEN  THK 
NEWS  OF  PEACE  ARRIVES  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


CRUISE  AND  CAFITTRE  OF  THE  PRIVATEER-BIIIG   GENERAL  ARM- 
STRONG, SAMUEL  C.  REID,  COMMANDER. 

Captain  Reid  Gailed  from  Sandy  Hook  on  the  9th  of 
September,  1814,  bound  on  a  cruise.  On  the  same 
night  after  leaving  port.  Captain  Reid  was  chased  by  a 
British  frigate,  and  a  ship  of  the  Hne.  He  outsailed 
them  both,  when  at  noon  the  next  day,  they  thought 
proper  to  give  up  the  chase.  On  the  11th,  two  days 
after  leaving  port,  he  boarded  the  private  armed- 
schooner  Perry,  six  days  from  Philadelphia.  The  Perry 
had  thrown  all  her  guns  overboard,  being  hard  pressed 
by  .  ?  enemy.  The  next  day,  on  the  12th,  Captain 
Reid  exchanged  a  few  shols  with  a  British  man-'^f-war 
brig,  and  then  proceeded  on  his  course.  On  the  24th, 
boarded  a  Spanish  brig  and  a  schooner,  and  also  a  Por- 
tuguese ship,  all  from  Havana.  He  allowed  them  all 
to  proceed  on   their  respective  courses.     On  the  26th  of 

(370) 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


'"71 
Ol  1 


Sept'^mbor,  Captain  Rcid  came  to  anclior  in  the  Fayal 
Roads,  for  the  purpose  of  fiUingup  water,  uml  obtaining 
refresliments.  From  this  daie  I  shall  leave  the  brave 
captain  to  tell  his  cwn  story  ;  here  follows  the  relation 
of  that  gentleman  : — 

"  I  called  on  the  American  Consul,  who  very  politely 
ordered  our  water  immediately  sent  off,  it  being  our  in- 
tention to  proceed  to  sea  early  the  next  day.  At  5  i\  m. 
I  went  on  board,  the  Consul  and  some  other  gentlemen 
in  company.  I  asked  some  questions  concerning  the 
enemy's  cruisers,  and  was  told  there  had  been  none  at 
these  Islands  for  several  weeks,  when  about  dusk,  while 
we  were  conversing,  the  British  brig  Carnation,  sud- 
denly hove  in  sight,  close  under  the  N.E.  head  of  the 
harbor,  within  gun-shot.  When  hrst  discovered,  the 
idea  of  getting  under  way  was  instantly  suggested,  but 
finding  the  enemy's  brig  had  the  advantage  of  a  breeze, 
and  but  littlo  wind  with  us,  it  was  thought  doubtful  if 
we  should  be  able  to  get  to  sea  without  hazarding  an 
action.  I  questioned  the  Consul  to  know,  if  in  his 
opinion  the  enemy  would  regard  the  neutrahty  of  the 
port  ?  He  gave  me  to  understand  I  might  make  myself 
perfectly  easy,  assuring  me  at  the  same  time,  they  would 
never  molest  us  while  at  anchor.  But  no  sooner  did  the 
enemy's  brig  understand  from  the  pilot-boat  who  we 
werCj  than  she  immedia:ely  hauled  close  in,  and  let  go 
her  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of  us.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment the  Plantagenct  and  frigate  Rota,  hove  in  sight, 
to  whom  the  Carnation  instantly  made  signals,  and  a 
constant  interchange,  took  place  for  some  time. 

"The  result  was,  the  Carnation  proceeded  to  throw  out 
all  her  boats;  dispatched  on  board  the  Commodore,  and 
appeared  otherwise  to  be  making  unusual  exertions. 
From  these  circumstances,  we  began  to  suspect  their  real 


372 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


fl81.'). 


intentions.  The  moon  was  near  its  full,  which  enabled 
us  to  observe  them  very  minutely,  and  I  now  deter- 
mined to  haul  in  nearer  the  shore. 

"  Accordingly,  after  clearing  for  action,  we  got  under 
way,  and  began  to  sweep  in.  The  moment  this  was  ob- 
served by  the  enemy's  brig,  she  instantly  cut  her  cable, 
made  sail,  and  dispatched  four  boats  in  pursuit  of 
us.  Being  now  about  8  p.  m.,  as  soon  as  we  saw  the 
boats  approaching,  we  let  go  our  anchor,  got  springs  on 
our  cable,  and  prepared  to  receive  them,  I  hailed  tlicm 
repeatedly  as  they  drew  near,  but  they  felt  no  inclina- 
tion to  reply.  Sure  of  their  game,  they  only  pulled  up 
with  the  greater  speed.  I  observed  the  boats  were  well 
manned,  and  apparently  as  well  armedj  and  as  soon  as 
they  had  cleverly  got  alongside,  we  opened  our  fire, 
which  was  as  soon  returned  ;  but  meeting  with  rather  a 
warmer  reception  than  they  had  probably  been  aware 
of,  they  very  soon  cried  out  for  quarters,  and  hauled  off. 
In  this  skirmish  I  had  one  man  killed,  and  my  first  lieu- 
tenant wounded.  The  enemy's  loss  must  have  been  up- 
ward of  twenty  killed  and  wounded. 

"They  had  now  repaired  to  their  ships  to  prepare  for 
a  more  formidable  attack.  We,  in  the  interim,  having 
taken  the  hint,  prepared  to  haul  close  into  the  beach, 
where  we  moored  head  and  stern,  within  half  pistol-shot 
of  the  castle.  This  done,  vve  again  prepared,  in  the  best 
possible  manner,  for  their  second  reception. 

"About  9  P.M.  we  observed  the  enemy's  brig  towing  in 
a  large  fleet  of  boats.  They  soon  after  left  the  brig, 
and  took  their  station  in  three  divisions,  under  cover  of 
a  small  reef  of  rocks,  within  about  musket  shot  of  us. 
Here  they  continued  manoeuvring  for  some  time,  the 
brig  still  keeping  under  way  to  act  with  the  boats,  should 
we  at  a    "  Ume  attempt  our  escape. 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


373 


"The  shores  were  hncdwith  tlic  iuhiihitaiits,  wtiitinjx 
the  expected  attack  ;  and  from  tlie  briglitness  of  the 
moon,  they  had  a  most  favorable  view  of  the  scene.  Tlie 
Governor,  with  most  of  the  first  people  of  the  place,  stood 
by  and  saw  the  whole  affair.  At  length,  about  midnight, 
we  observed  the  boats  in  motion  (our  crew  having  laid 
at  quarters  during  the  whole  of  this  interval).  They 
came  on  in  one  direct  line,  keeping  in  close  order,  and 
we  plainly  counted  twelve  boats.  As  soon  as  they  came 
within  proper  distance  we  opened  our  fire,  which  was 
warmly  returned  from  the  enemy's  carronades,  and 
small  arms.  The  discharge  from  our  long-tom  rather 
staggered  them ;  but  soon  reconnoitring,  they  gave 
three  cheers  and  came  on  most  spiritedly.  In  a  moment 
they  succeeded  in  gaining  our  bow  and  starboard  quar- 
ter, and  the  word  was  board.  Our  great  guns  now  be- 
coming useless,  we  attacked  them  sword  in  hand,  toge- 
ther with  our  pikc3,  pistols  and  musketry,  from  which 
our  lads  poured  on  them  a  most  destructive  fire. 

"The  enemy  made  frequent  and  repeated  attempts  to 
gain  our  decks,  but  were  repulsed  at  all  times,  and  at  all 
points,  with  the  greatest  slaughter.  About  the  middle 
of  the  action,  I  received  intelligence  of  the  death  of  my 
second  lieutenant ;  and  soon  after  of  the  third  lieutenant, 
badly  wounded.  From  this  and  other  causes,  I  found 
our  fire  had  much  slackened  on  the  forecastle,  and  fear- 
ful of  the  event,  I  instantly  rallied  the  whole  of  our 
after-division,  who  had  been  bravely  defending,  ani  now 
had  succeeded  in  beating  the  boats  off  the  quarters. 
They  gave  a  shout,  rushed  forward,  opened  a  fresh  fire, 
and  soon  after  decided  the  conflict,  which  terminated  in 
the  total  defeat  of  the  enemy,  and  the  loss  of  many  of 
their  boats  ;  two  of  which  belonged  to  the  Tlota,  we 
took  possession  of  them,  literally  loaded  with  their  own 


374 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


dead.  Seventeen  only  escaped  from  them  both,  who 
swam  to  the  shore.  In  another  boat,  under  our  quar- 
ter, commanded  by  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Plan- 
tagenct,  all  were  killed  saving  four.  This  I  have  from 
the  lieutenant  himself,  who  further,  told  me  that  he 
jumped  overboard  to  save  his  own  life. 

'  The  duration  of  the  action  was  about  40  minutes. 
Our  decks  were  now  found  in  much  confusion,  our  long- 
tom  dismounted,  and  several  of  our  gun-carriages  broken; 
many  of  our  crew  having  left  the  vessel,  and  others  dis- 
abled. Under  these  circumstances,  however,  we  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  long-tom  in  his  berth,  and  the  decks 
cleared,  in  order  for  a  fresh  action,  should  the  enemy 
attack  us  again  before  daylight. 

**  About  3  A.M.  I  received  a  message  from  the  American 
Consul,  requesting  to  see  me  on  shore,  where  he  in- 
formed me  the  Governor  had  sent  a  note  to  Captain 
Lloyd,  begging  him  to  desist  from  further  hostilities. 
To  which  Captain  Lloyd  sent  for  answer,  that  he  was 
now  determined  to  have  the  privateer  at  the  risk  of 
knocking  down  the  whole  town  ;  and  that  if  the  Gover- 
nor suffered  the  Americans  to  injure  the  privateer  in  any 
manner,  he  should  consider  the  place  an  enemy's  port, 
and  treat  it  accordingly.  Finding  this  to  be  the  case,  I 
considered  all  hope  of  saving  our  vessel  to  be  at  an  end. 
I  therefore  went  on  board,  and  ordered  all  our  wounded 
and  dead  to  be  taken  on  shore,  and  the  crew  to  save 
their  effects  as  fast  as  possible.  Soon  after  this  it  became 
daylight,  when  the  enemy's  brig  stood  close  in,  and  com- 
menced a  heavy  fire  on  us  with  all  her  force.  After 
several  broadsides  she  hauled  off,  having  received  a  shot 
in  her  hull,  h;- '  rigging  much  cut,  and  her  fore-top-mast 
wounded  (of  this  I  was  informed  by  the  British  Consul). 
She  soon  after  came  in  again,  and  anchored  close  to  the 


1816.] 


THE    AMERICAN    TRIVATEERS. 


376 


privateer.  I  then  ordered  the  Gen.  Armstrong  to  be 
scuttled,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  cutting  her  oIK  She 
was  80on  afterwards  boarded  by  the  enemy's  boats,  and 
set  on  (ire,  which  soon  completed  her  destruction.  They 
also  destroyed  a  number  of  houses  in  the  town,  and 
wounded  some  of  the  inhabitants. 

'*  By  what  I  have  been  able  to  learn  from  the  British 
Consul  and  officers  of  the  fleei  it  appears  there  were 
about  400  officers  and  men  in  the  last  attack  by  the 
boats,  of  which  120  were  killed,  and  about  130  wounded. 
Captain  Lloyd,  I  am  told  by  the  British  Consul,  is  badly 
wounded  in  the  leg  ;  ajury  of  surgeons  had  been  held, 
who  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  amputation  would  be 
necessary  to  insure  his  hfe.  'Tis  said,  however,  that 
the  wound  was  occasioned  by  an  ox  treading  on  him. 

"  The  fleet  has  remained  here  about  a  week,  during 
which  time  they  have  been  principally  employed  in 
burying  the  dead,  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded. 
Three  days  after  the  action,  they  were  joined  by  the 
ship  Thais,  and  brig  Calypso  (two  sloops  of  war),  they 
were  immediately  taken  into  requisition  by  Captain 
Lloyd,  to  take  home  the  wounded  men.  The  Calypso 
sailed  for  England  with  part  of  the  wounded  on  the  2d 
instant,  among  whom  was  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Plantagenet.  The  Thais  sails  this  evening  with  the 
remainder,  Captain  Lloyd's  fleet  sailed  to-day,  sup- 
posed for  the  "West  Indies. 

"  The  loss  on  our  part,  I  am  happy  to  say,  is  compara- 
tively trifling  ;  two  killed  and  seven  wounded.  With 
regard  to  my  officers  in  general,  I  feel  the  greatest  satis- 
faction in  saying,  they  one  and  all  fought  with  the  most 
determined  bravery,  and  to  them  I  feel  highly  indebted 
for  their  officer-like  conduct,  during  the  short  period  we 


37G 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


were  to«2;othor  ;  their  exertions  and  bravery  deserved  a 
better  fate. 

"I  here  insert,  for  your  inspection,  a  list  of  the  killed 
and  wounded. 

"  Killed — Mr.  Alexander  0.  Williams,  second-lieuten- 
ant, by  a  musket  ball  in  the  forehead,  died  instantly  ; 
Burton  Lloyd,  seaman,  wounded  by  a  musket  ball 
through  the  heart,  died  instantly. 

"  Wounded — Frederick  A.  Worth,  first  lieutenant,  in 
the  right  side  ;  Robert  Johnson,  third  lieutenant,  in  the 
left  knee  ;  Razilla  Hammond,  quarter-master,  left  arm  ; 
John  Finer,  seaman,  wounded  in  the  knee  ;  William  Cas- 
tle, in  the  arm  ;  Nicholas  Scalsan,  in  the  arm  and  leg  ; 
John  Harrison,  in  the  arm  and  face,  by  the  explosion  of 
a  gun. 

"  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  announce  to  you,  that 
our  wounded  are  all  in  a  fiiir  way  of  recovery,  through 
the  unremitting  care  and  attention  of  our  worthy 
surgeon. 

"  Mr.  Dabney,  our  Consul,  is  a  gentleman  possessing 
every  feeling  of  humanity,  and  to  whom  the  utmost 
gratitude  is  due  from  us  for  his  great  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  his  polite  attention  to  my  officers  and 
myself. 

"Mr.  Williams  was  a  most  deserving  and  promising 
officer.  His  country,  in  him,  has  lost  one  of  her  brightest 
ornaments,  and  his  death  must  be  sadly  lamented  by  all 
wlio  knew  his  worth. 

"  Accompanied  with  this,  you  will  find  a  copy  of  my 
protest,  together  with  copies  of  letters,  written  by  Mr. 
Dabney,  to  the  Governor  of  Tayal ;  our  Minister  at  llio 
Janeiro,  and  our  Secretar}''  of  State.  These  letters  will 
develop  more  fully,  the    circumstances  of  this  unfortu- 


[1815. 
'  deserved  a 

of  the  killed 

:ond-licuten- 
d  instantly  ; 
musket   ball 

cutenant,  in 
3nant,  in  the 
ir,  left  arm  ; 
^^illiam  Cas- 
rm  and  leg ; 
explosion  of 

to  you,  that 

Dry,  through 

our   worthy 

in  possessing 
the  utmost 
the  sick  and 
officers  and 

promising 
icr  brightest 
lented  by  all 

copy  of  my 
tten  by  Mr. 
nister  at  llio 
e  letters  will 
this  unfortu- 


1816.] 


TUB    AMERICAN    I'UIVATEERS. 


37 


nate  affair.  We  expect  to  sail  to-morrow  in  a  Portu- 
guese brig  for  Amelia  Island,  which  takes  the  whole  of 
our  crew,  till  when, 

"  I  remain,  gentlemen, 

"  Your  very  obedient,  Iiumble  servant, 

"SAMUEL  C.  IIEID." 

DESTRUCTION  OF  TOE  GENERAF,  AHMSTRONG. 

The  details  that  follow,  though  they  regard  only  a 
private  armed  vessel,  will  be  read  with  great  interest. 
We  are  called  as  much  to  admire  the  gallantry  and  per- 
severance of  our  seamen,  as  the  impudence  of  the  enemy 
in  violating  a  neutral  territory.  But  they  paid  dearly 
for  this  irruption  on  the  sovereignty  of  Portugal  and 
the  rights  of  hospitality.  The  vessels  that  attacked  the 
General  Armstrong,  arrived  at  Jamaica  on  the  5th  ult., 
and  acknowledged  a  loss  of  G3  killed,  and  110  wounded, 
having  three  lieutenants  killed,  and  three  wounded, 
total  173.  This  is  not  the  whole  by  a  great  deal.  They 
lost  about  300,  as  the  captain  of  the  Rota  acknowledged 
to  our  Consul  that  they  had  120  men  killed,  or  dead  of 
their  wounds,  the  day  after  the  battle,  and  according  to 
the  general  scale  of  such  things,  there  must  have  been 
at  least  double  that  number  remaining  wounded.  Some 
of  the  most  splendid  victories  the  British  have  ever 
gained,  were  less  dearly  purchased.  Sir  Richard  Strachan, 
with  four  ships  of  the  line,  and  four  frigates,  fought  a 
French  fleet  for  several  hours,  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1805,  and  captured  four  ships  of  74  and  80  guns,  with  a 
loss  of  only  135  killed  and  wounded — less  according  to 
his  account  than  by  the  British  accounts  of  the  attack 
on  the  Armstrong,  they  lost  in  capturing  a  privateer, 
hemmed  up  in  a  port.  A  few  such  victories  as  this, 
would  teach  them  better  manners. 


878 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


The  Court  of  Portugal  is  bound  to  pay  for  Iho  priva- 
teer, and  receive  satisfaction  for  the  outrage  from  that 
of  Great  Britain. 


COPY  OF  A  LETTER    FROM  OUR  CONSUL  AT  FAYAL   IX)  THE  SECRE- 
TARY OF  STATE. 

Fayal,  5th  October,  1814. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  state  to  you,  that  a  most 
outrageous  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  this  port,  in  ut- 
ter contempt  of  the  laws  of  civilized  nations,  has  recently 
been  committed  here  by  the  commanders  of  His  Britan- 
nic Majesty's  ships,  T'lntagenet,  Rota  and  Carnation, 
against  the  private  armed  brig  General  Armstrong, 
Samuel  C.  Reid  commander  ;  but  I  have  great  satisfac- 
tion in  being  able  to  add  that  this  occurrence  terminated 
in  one  of  the  most  brilliant  actions  on  the  part  of  Cap- 
tain Reid,  his  brave  officers  and  crew,  that  can  be  found 
on  naval  record. 

The  American  brig  came  to  anchor  in  this  port  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  2Gth  of  September,  and  at  sun- 
set of  the  same  day,  the  above  named  ships  suddenly 
appeared  in  these  roads  ;  it  being  nearly  calm  in  this 
port,  it  was  rather  doubtful  if  the  privateer  could  escape, 
if  she  got  under  way,  and  relying  on  the  justice  and 
good  faith  of  the  British  captains,  it  was  deemed  most 
prudent  to  remain  at  anchor. 

A  little  after  dusk,  Captain  Reid,  seeing  some  sus- 
picious movements  on  the  part  of  the  British,  began  to 
warp  his  vessel  close  under  the  guns  of  the  castle,  and 
while  doing  so,  he  was,  at  about  8  o'clock  p.  m.,  ap- 
proached by  four  boats  from  the  ships,  fdlcd  with  armed 
men.  After  hailing  them  repeatedly,  and  warning  them 
to  keep  off,  he  ordered  his  men  to  fire  on  them,  and 
killed  and  wounded  several  men.     The  boats  returned 


[1816. 

for  the  priva- 
ige   from  that 


I  TO  THE  SECRE- 

obor,  1814. 
I,  that  a  most 
is  port,  in  ut- 
i,  has  recently 
Df  His  Britan- 
nd  Carnation, 
1  Armstrong, 
great  satisfac- 
ce  terminated 
)  part  of  Cap- 
can  be  found 

this  port  in 
and  at  sun- 
ips  suddenly 
calm  in  this 
could  escape, 
e  justice  and 
deemed  most 

ig  some  sus- 
ish,  began  to 
c  castle,  and 
ck  p.  M.,  ap- 
1  with  armed 
earning  them 
n  them,  and 
ats  returned 


181/5.) 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


379 


the  fire,  killed  one  man,  and  woundod  the  first  lieuten- 
ant of  the  privateer,  and  returned  to  their  ships  ;  and, 
as  it  was  now  bright  moonlight,  it  was  plainly  perceived 
from  the  brig,  as  well  as  from  the  shore,  that  a  formid- 
able attack  was  premeditating. 

Soon  after  midnight,  twelve  or  more  large  boats,  crowd- 
ed with  men  from  the  ships,  and  armed  with  carronades, 
swivels,  blunderbusses,  small  arms,  etc.,  attacked  the 
brig.  A  severe  contest  ensued,  which  lasted  about  forty 
minutes,  and  ended  in  the  total  defeat,  and  partial  de- 
struction of  the  boats,  with  a  most  unparalleled  carnage 
on  the  part  of  the  British. 

It  is  estimated,  by  good  judges,  that  near  four  hun- 
dred men  were  in  the  boats  when  the  attack  commenced, 
and  no  doubt  exists  in  the  minds  of  the  numerous  spec- 
tators of  the  scene,  that  more  than  one  half  of  them 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Several  boats  were  destroyed  ; 
two  of  them  remained  along  side  of  the  brig,  literally 
loaded  with  their  own  dead.  From  these  two  boats,  only 
seventeen  men  reached  the  shore  alive  ;  most  of  them 
were  severely  wounded. 

The  vvhole  of  the  following  day,  the  British  were  oc- 
cupied in  burying  their  dead  ;  among  them  were  two 
lieutenants  and  one  midshipman,  of  the  Rota  ;  the  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Plantagenet,  it  is  said,  cannot  survive 
his  wounds,  and  many  of  the  seamen  who  reached  the 
ships  were  mortally  wounded,  and  have  been  dying  daily. 

The  British,  mortified  at  this  signal  and  unexpected 
defeat,  endeavored  to  conceal  the  extent  of  their  loss. 
They  admit,  however,  that  they  have  lost  in  killed,  and 
who  have  died  since  the  engagement,  upward  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  of  the  flower  of  their  officers  and 
men.  The  captain  of  the  Rota  told  me  he  lost  seventy 
men  from  his  ship. 


380 


TUE     AMKRICAN     I'KIVATEERS. 


(1815. 


Two  (Isiya  lifter  tliis  alTair  took  pla(3e,  two  British 
sloopH-of-war,  Thai.s  and  Calyi)So,  oaiiio  into  })ort,  which 
Captain  liloyd  imniediatcly  look  into  requisition  to  carry 
home  tlic  wounded  officers  and  .seamen.  Tliey  liave 
sailed  for  EngUind — one  on  tlie  2nd,  and  tlio  other  on 
the  4th  instant  ;  eacli  carried  twenty-five  men,  badly 
wounded.  Those  who  were  slightly  wounded,  to  the  num- 
ber, .isT  am  informed,  of  about  thirty,  remained  on  board 
their  respective  ships,  and  sailed  last  eveninf^  for  Jamaica. 

Strict  orders  were  given  that  the  sloops-of-war 
should  take  no  letters  whatever  to  England,  and  tho.^e 
orders  were  rigidly  adhered  to.  In  face  of  the  testi- 
mony of  all  Fayal,  and  a  number  of  respectable  stran- 
gers who  happened  to  be  in  this  place  at  the  moment, 
the  British  commander  endeavors  to  throw  the  odium 
of  this  transaction  on  the  American  Captain  Beid,  al- 
leging that  he  sent  the  boats  njerely  to  reconnoitre  the 
brig,  and  without  any  hostile  intentions  ;  the  pilots  of  the 
port  did  inform  them  of  the  privateer  the  moment  they 
entered  the  port.  To  recoiuioitre  an  enemy's  vessel,  in 
a  friendly  port,  at  night,  with  four  boats,  carrying,  by 
the  best  accounts,  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  is  cer- 
tainly a  strange  proceeding  !  The  fact  is,  they  expected, 
as  the  brig  was  warping  in,  that  the  Americans  would 
not  be  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  they  had  hopes  of 
carrying  her  by  a  "  coup  de  main."  If  anything  could 
add  to  the  baseness  of  this  transaction,  on  the  part  of 
the  British  commander,  it  is  the  want  of  candor,  openly 
and  boldly  to  avow  the  facts.  In  vain  can  he  expect, 
by  such  subterfuge,  to  shield  himself  from  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  world,  and  the  merited  resentment  of  his 
own  government  and  nation,  for  thus  trampling  on  the 
sovereignty  of  their  most  ancient  and  faithful  ally,  and 
for  the  wanton  sacrifice  of  British  lives. 


[1815. 


I8lft.] 


THR    AMKIUCAN    IMHVATKEUS. 


nsi 


(30,  two  British 

nto  port,  which 

lUHition  to  curry 

in.     Tlicy  have 

1(1  tho   other  on 

[ivo   men,  badly 

dcd,  to  tlie  num- 

Tiained  on  board 

ing  for  Jamaica. 

Q    8looi)S-of'-war 

;land,  and  iho^o 

ice  of  tho  tesii- 

spcctable  stran- 

at  tlie  moment, 

irow  the   odium 

aptain  Reid,  al- 

reconnoitre  the 

tlie  pilots  of  the 

lie  moment  they 

cmy's  vessel,  in 

s,  carrying,  by 

nty  men,  is  cer- 

they  expected, 

Tiericans  would 

y  had  hopes  of 

anything  could 

on  the  part  of 

candor,  openly 

can  he  expect, 

»m  the  indigna- 

entment  of  his 

ampling  on  the 

jthful  ally,  and 


.t 


On  the  part  of  the  Americans,  liic  h)ss  wiis  compara- 
tively nothing  ;  two  i\illod  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 
Of  tho  slain,  we  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  second 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Alexander  ().  WilliaiuH,  of  New  York  ;  u 
brave  and  meritorious  oHiccr. 

Among  the  wounded,  are  Me.s.srs.  Worth  and  .lohn- 
son,  first  and  third  lieutenants.  Captain  Reid  was  thus 
deprived,  early  in  the  action,  of  tho  services  of  all  his 
lieutenants  ;  but  his  cool  and  intrepid  conduct  secured 
him  the  victory. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27l-  It.  -m  ^^  the  British 
shi[)s  placed  herself  near  the  .yre,  \nd  •  mmentjod  a 
heavy  cannonade  on  the  privateer.  l''iiiding  further  re- 
sistance unavailing.  Captain  Reid  ordered  her  to  be 
abandoned,  after  being  jiartially  desti-oyed,  to  prevent  her 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  soon 
after  sent  their  boats  and  set  her  on  fire. 

At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  (soon  after  the  fir.st 
attack),  I  applied  to  the  Governor,  requesting  his  Ex- 
cellency to  protect  the  privateer,  either  by  force,  or  by 
such  remonstrance  to  the  commander  of  the  sfjuadroii. 
as  would  cause  him  to  desist  from  any  further  attempt. 

The  Oovernor,  feeling  indignant  at  what  had  i)ass('d, 
but  feeling  himself  totally  unable,  with  the  .slender 
means  he  possessed,  to  resist  such  a  force,  took  the  part 
of  remonstrating,  which  he  did  in  forcible,  but  respectful 
terms. 

His  letter  to  Captain  Lloyd  had  no  other  effect 
than  to  produce  a  menacing  reply,  insulting  in  the  high- 
est degree.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  indignation  of  the 
public  authorities,  as  well  as  of  all  ranks  and  descriptions 
of  persons  here,  at  this  unprovoked  enormity.  Such  was 
the  rage  of  the  British  to  destroy  this  vessel,  that  no 
regard  was  paid  to  the  safety  of  the  town.     Some  of  the 


882 


TIIK    AMKRICAN    PUIVATEERS. 


[1810. 


inhabitiintH  were  woundcid,  uml  a  immhcr  of  tlio  Iiousoh 
were  much  (lainiv^(M].  The  Htroiigo.st  rcpivscnlation.s  on 
this  subject  wcm'c  j)r('paro(l  by  ilu'  (Jovonior  for  his  court. 
Since  thin  aflair,  tlio  conunancUM',  Iih)y(l,  thr(Mit<Mic(l  to 
fiCMul  on  shore  an  armed  force,  and  arrest  the  privatocr'H 
crew,  saying  there  were  many  Riigiislnnen  am()n;j;  them, 
and  our  poor  fellows,  afraid  of  his  v(Mi;jfean('e,  have  lied 
into  the  mountaiuH  several  times,  and  have  been  har- 
assed extremely. 

At  length,  Captain  Tjloyd,  fearful  of  losing  more  men, 
if  he  put  his  threats  in  execution,  adojjted  this  strata- 
gem :  lie  addressed  an  olTicial  letter  to  the  (Jovornor, 
stating  that  in  the  American  crew  were  two  men  who 
deserted  from  his  squadron  in  America,  and  as  tlicy 
were  guilty  of  high  treason,  lie  required  them  to  bo 
found  and  given  u}).  Accordingly,  a  force  was  sent  into 
the  country,  and  the  American  seamen  were  arrested 
and  brought  to  town,  and  as  they  could  not  designate 
the  said  pretended  deserters,  all  the  seamen  here  passed 
an  examination  of  the  British  ofiicers,  but  no  such  per- 
sons could  be  found  among  them. 

I  was  requested  by  the  Governor  and  British  Consul 
to  attend  this  luuniliating  examination,  as  was  also  Cap- 
tain lleid,  but  we  declined  to  sanction  by  our  presence 
any  such  proceedings. 

Captain  Reid  has  protested  against  the  British  com- 
manders of  the  squadron,  for  the  unwarrantable  de- 
struction of  his  vessel  in  a  neutral  and  friendly  port,  as 
also  against  the  government  of  Portugal,  for  their  in- 
ability to  protect  him. 

No  doubt  this  Government  will  feel  themselves  bound 
to  make  ample  indemnification  to  the  owners,  officers 
and  crew  of  this  vessel,  for  the  great  loss  they  have  sev- 
erally sustained. 


(1816. 

of  tho  housos 
resoniiilionHon 
)r  for  hisoourt. 

thrtMiUMicd  to 
the  privatiM'r'H 
II  ainoii;?  thoiu, 
iUM'O,  hiivo  llo<l 
luive  bocii  hur- 

^iiipf  more  men, 
itod  lliis  strula- 
the  (Jovernor, 
)  two  men  wlio 
a,  and  as  thoy 
cd  thom  to  bo 
cc  was  sent  into 
1  were  arrested 
d  not  designate 
nen  lierc  passed 
it  no  such  per- 

l  British  Consul 
,s  was  also  Cap- 
y  our  presence 

ic  British  com- 
rari'antable  do- 
friendly  port,  as 
il,  for  their  in- 

iemselves  bound 
jowners,  officers 
they  have  sev- 


ISlfi.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


383 


I  shall,  as  early  as  possible,  Iransmlt  a  stulfiuunt  of 
this  transaction  to  our  Minister  at  Uio  Janeiro  for  hin 
government. 

1  have  the  honor  to  b(»,  with  great  respect, 
Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  DABNI^JY. 

HONOR  TO  THE  BRAVE. 

On  Captain  Ileid's  arrival  at  Savannah  from  Fayal, 
he  was  treated  with  great  respect  and  kindness  by  all 
classes  of  people. 

On  his  way  homo  to  New  York,  ho  was  invited,  and 
partook  of  a  s])lendid  public  entertaiiunent  atllicihinond, 
V^irginia.  The  company  was  very  numerous,  and 
among  thom,  the  Governor,  and  others  of  the  first 
character  in  Virginia.  The  Si)eaker  of  the  House  of  Del- 
gates  (Mr.  Stevenson),  President,  and  the  nicnibers  of 
the  Legislature  constituted  a  large  portion  of  the  enter- 
tainers. The  toasts  were  highly  characteristic  of  gener- 
ous Virginia.     AVe  select  the  following  : 

"  The  Navy — whose  lightning  has  struck  down  the 
'meteor  flag  of  England.'  They  have  conquered  those 
who  had  conquered  the  world." 

"  The  private  cruisers  of  the  United  States — whose 
mtrepidity  has  i)ierccd  the  enemy's  channels,  and  ])earded 
the  lion  in  his  den." 

"  The  army  of  the  Niagara,  the  rivals  of  our  seamen — 
their  gallant  deeds  will  live  to  endless  ages,  in  the  re- 
cords of  time." 

"  Brown,  Scott,  O.aines  and  Porter — Chippewa,  Bridge- 
water,  Plattsburg  and  Erie,  are  the  deathless  monuments 
of  their  fame." 
"Barney,    Boyle,   and  their  compatriots — who  have 


384 


THE    AMERICAN    I 'IIVATEERS. 


[1815, 


plouj^lied  tlie  seas  in  search  of  the  enemy,  and  hurled 
rctahalion  upon  his  head." 

"  Our  Ministers  at  (jhent — who  breathe  the  spirit  of 
their  country,  war  in  preference  to  the  shj^htest  sacrifice 
oi  honor.'' 

"  Foreign  Nations — let  us  liold  them  as  did  cur 
flit  hers,  '  enemies  in  war  ;  in  peace  friends.'  " 

"Legislators — may  the  people  abandoji 'those  who 
.sacrifice  the  safety  of  their  country  to  the  shadow  of 
popularity.' " 

' '  Volunteers" — by  the  Vice-President,  Mr .  Wirt — "the 
memory  of  the  General  Armstrong  ;  she  has  '  graced  her 
lall,  and  made  her  ruin  glorious.' " 

"  By  Judge  Cabell — T'le  Spirit  of  our  fore-fathers,  dis- 
played in  concert  and  energy  of  action  ;  not  wasted  in 
endless  and  fruitless  discussion." 

"  By  Judge  Brockcnborough — Neutral  Ports — when- 
ever the  tyrants  of  the  ocean  dare  to  invade  these 
sanctuaries,  may  they  meet  with  an  '  Essex'  and  an 
'  Armstrong.' " 

"  By  Gon.  Cocke — American  seamen — their  achieve- 
ments form  '.n  era  in  the  naval  annals  of  the  world  : 
may  their  brother  soldiers  e^nulate  their  deeds  of  ever- 
lasting renown." 

On  Captain  Reid's  retiring:  "  By  the  President — 
Captain  Reid — his  valor  has  shed  a  blaze  of  renown 
upon  ihe  character  of  our  seamen,  and  won  for  himself 
a  laurel  of  eternal  bloom." 

CONTINUA'. -ON  OF  I TUZES  CAPTURED  BY  PRIVATEERS  AND  LET- 
TERS-OF-MARQUE,  AFTER  THE  TREATY  OF  PEA;'E  WAS  SIGNED 
'rnOUGH  UNKNOWN  AT  THAT  TIME,  TO  EITHER  OP  THE  BELIAG- 
Ei;l.j\'»'  PARTIL ,. 

The  privateer  Tarrior,  of  New  York,  captured  tho 
following  British  vessels  : 


1815.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PIllVATEEUS. 


385 


II    as   did   cur 


:,  captured  tho 


Brig  Hope,  from  Glasgow  for  Buenos  Ayros,  divested 
of  a  lai-gc  quantity  of  English  goods,  and  manned  for 
the  United  States. 

Ship  Francis  and  Eliza,  burthen  377  tons  with  tea 
guns  and  thirty-five  men,  from  London  bound  for  New 
South  Vales.  This  ship  liad  on  board  124  male  and 
female  convicts.  After  divesting  her  of  sundry  articles 
of  merchandise,  the  privateer  allowed  her  to  proceed  on 
her  voyage. 

The  British  ship  Neptune,  259  tons  burthen,  8  gnns 
and  fifteen  men,  from  Liverpool  for  St.  Salvador,  with  a 
cargo  of  British  goods.  The  Warrior  removed  from  her 
the  most  vahuible  portion  of  her  cargo,  and  sent  her  to 
tho  Urjitcd  States. 

Brig  Dundee,  of  Dundee,  from  London  also  for  St. 
Salvador,  with  Bviilsh  goods  to  a  largo  amount.  VFter 
removing  to  the  privateer  a  large  quantity  of  valuable 
goods,  manned  her  for  New  York. 

After  the  Warrior  had  taken  out  of  her  prizes  323 
bales  and  packages  of  English  goods,  and  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  in  specie,  she  made  sail  for  Nevv  York,  at 
which  port  she  safely  arrived. 

During  the  cruise,  she  was  often  chased  by  frigates, 
and  received  several  shot  from  one  of  them.  She  was 
at  another  time  so  hotly  pursued  by  an  P]nglish  74,  that 
in  passing  she  received  several  of  her  shot,  but  finally 
made  her  escape  with  but  little  injury.  The  W^arrior  was 
a  beantifid  brig  of  430  tons  biu'then,  built  on  the  pilot 
boat  construction,  mounted  21  guns,  and  carried 
150    men. 

The  privateer    Mammcdh,  of  Baltimore,  relurned  to 

New  York  after  a  long  and  luiprofitable  cruise,  without 

making  any  captures.     She  was  several  times  chased  by 

British  frigates,  but  fortunately  escaped.     During  her 

25 


38G 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


cruise,  in   a    raliu,  she   was   attacked  by  several  of  the 
enemy's  boats,  but  beat  them  oIT  without  loss  to  hci'self. 

The  privateer  Ludlow  returned  to  Portsmouth,  after  a 
cruise  of  50  days,  without  making  a  single  capture. 

It  would  appear  by  this  that  British  ships  and  vessels 
had  become  somewhat  scarce  on  the  ocean,  as  our  priva- 
teers returned  with  but  very  few  prizes. 

The  letter-of-marque  Brutus,  of  Boston,  made  the 
following  captiu'cs  : 

Ship  Adventure,  with  an  assorted  cargo  of  British 
merchandise  ;  divested  her  of  the  most  valuable  portion 
of  it,  and  destroyed  the  vessel. 

Schooner  Margaretta,  with  a  small  assorted  cargo  of  not 
much  value.  Ilemoved  the  same  to  the  privateer,  and 
made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  get  rid  of  prisoners. 

Transport  brig  (xuardiana,  :^rom  Halifax  for  Plymouth, 
Eng.,  4  guns  and  15  men.  Divested  her  of  all  her 
cargo  worth  removing,  and  made  a  cartel  of  her,  to  dis- 
pose of  the  prisoners. 

Brig  Phoebe,  from  Malta  for  London,  with  an  assorted 
cargo.  Divested  her  of  a  portion  of  her  valuable  goods, 
and  manned  her  for  the  United  States. 

Brig  Tagus,  from  Smyrna  for  London,  mounting  four 
guns,  with  L5  men.  This  was  a  very  valuable  prize,  said 
to  be  worth  $100,000.  The  Brutus  removed  from  this 
vessel  143  bales  of  silk,  and  then  manned  and  ordered 
her  to  proceed  to  Boston,  at  which  port  she  fortunately 
arrived. 

Beside  the  before  enumerated  prizes,  the  Brutus  also 
captured  on  this  cruise,  the  British  ship  Albion,  from 
London  bound  for  Bei'muda.  This  ship  was  3 05  tons 
})urthen,  with  eight  guns  and  fifteen  men.  Her  cargo 
was  valued  at  $200,000.  She  was  manned  and  ordered 
to  proceed  to  a  port  in  the  United  States. 


[1815. 


1815.1 


THE    AMERICAN    PKIVATEERS. 


•387 


several  of  tlic 
loss  to  hei'self. 
siuoiitli.  after  a 
Ic  capture, 
ips  and  vessels 
1,  as  our  priva- 

ton,   made  the 

irgo  of  British 
aluahle  portion 

ted  cargo  of  not 

!  privateer,  and 

lers. 

<.  for  riyniouth, 

her    of  all  her 

1  of  her,  to  dis- 

s'itli  an  assorted 
valuable  goods, 

mounting  four 
table  prize,  said 
oved  from  this 
2d  and  ordered 
she  fortunately 

the  Brutus  also 

Albion,  from 

was  3G5  tons 

u.     Her  cargo 

d  and  ordered 


' 


British  schooner  Victoria,  laden  with  crates,  oil,  and 
sundry  British  goods,  was  also  captured  by  the  Brutus, 
and  ordered  to  proceed  to  Charleston. 

After  the  Brutus  had  taken  and  nuinned  all  the  before 
named  prizes,  she  made  sail  i'ov  Boston,  at  whicli  })oi-t 
she  arrived,  laden  with  a  veiy  valuable  cargo  of  silks 
and  oilier  rich  goods,  taken  from  tlie  enemy. 

British  schooner,  name  not  given,  from  Halifax  for 
Barbadocs,  with  a  cargo  of  hsh,  was« captured  by  the 
Avon,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Fort  lloyal,  Martini([ue, 
and  was  there  ransomed  for  her  former  owners. 

British  Brig  Success,  from  Cadiz  for  Newfoundland, 
laden  with  salt,  and  fruit,  etc.,  was  captured  by  the 
Blakel}',  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  that  port. 

British  brig  Jubilee,  from  St.  TJbes  for  Ireland,  with 
salt,  etc.,  was  also  captured  by  tbo  ]>lakely.  Divested 
the  prize  of  a  portionof  her  cargo,  and  then  destroyed  her. 

The  British  schooner  Thistle,  from  the  Mediterranean, 
with  a  valuable  cargo,  was  captured  by  the  America  of 
Salem,  on  her  last  cruise.  This  prize  was  recaptured  by 
tlie  British  sloop  of  war  Cossack,  olf  Cape  Sable,  on  the 
19th  of  March,  and  sent  to  Halifax,  but  was  subsequent- 
ly restored  to  the  American  captors,  acc«rdiiig  to  the 
treaty  regulations,  between  the  two  governments  on  that 
subject. 

English  Brig  Ocean,  with  8  guns,  and  15  men,  from 
Sicily  for  St.  Petersburg,  with  an  assorted  cargo,  was 
captured  by  the  Macedonian,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into 
Poi'tsmouth,  N.  H. 

British  packet  Windsor  Castle,  armed  witli  8  earro- 
nades,  and  2  long  brass  nine  pounders,  with  32  men,  and 
nine  passengers  from  Falmouth,  Eng.,  for  Halifax,  with 
five  mails,  was  captured  by  the  privateer  Iloger,  of  Nor- 
folk and  sent  into  that  port. 


388 


THE    AMERICAN    rillVATEERS. 


[181.0. 


Bi-itish  scliooner  Fanny,  with  nine  ^uns  from  Laguira, 
for  London,  was  captured  by  the  Lawrence  of  Balti- 
more, and  ordered  into  a  port  in  the  United  States,  hut 
in  consequence  of  bad  weather,  she  put  into  Cuba  to 
refit,  being  in  distress. 

Britisli  schooner,  name  not  given,  from  Fayal  for  St. 
Micliael,  cui)tured  by  the  Macedonian  of  Boston  ;  divest- 
ed of  her  cargo,  and  permitted  to  proceed  on  her 
voyage. 

Gahot  ,  under  Swedish  colors,  cai)tured  also  by 

the  Macedonian  ;  divested  of  her  English  })roperty,  and 
permitted  to  proceed  on  her  voyage. 

The  Macedonian  also  captured  and  burnt  the  sloop 
,  from  Forway  for  Naples,  with  a  cargo  of  fish. 

The  English  ship ,   from  Newfoundland,   for  the 

Mediterranean,  was  also  captured  by  the  Macedonian 
and  burnt. 

British  brig  Acorn,  14  guns  12-pounders,  from  Liver- 
pool for  Rio  Janeiro,  with  a  full  cargo  ;  captured  by  the 
Grand  Turk:  divested  of  a  large  portion  of  her  most  val- 
uable articles,  then  manned  and  ordered  into  a  port  in 
the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Grand  Turk,  arrived  at  Salem,  with 
$17,500  ill  specie,  and  180  bales  of  English  goods,  taken 
from  sundry  British  vessels,  during  her  last  cruise. 

A  small  English  schooner,  a  tender  to  the  English 
"74,"  Dragon,  commanded  by  a  lieutenant,  was  cap- 
tured b}^  the  Saranac,  of  Baltimore,  and  sunk. 

A  British  packet,  name  not  given,  was  also  captured 
by  the  Saranirc,  in  the  West  Indies  and  sunk.  The  Sa- 
ranac had  returned  to  port  after  an  unsuccessful  cruise. 
She  spoke  many  nculral  vessels,  but  saw  nothing  worth 
taking  from  the  enemy. 

Galiot  Ann,  with  a  cargo  of  British  goods,  was  cap- 


[isir}. 

from  Laguira, 
:ncc  of  Balti- 
3d  Htalos,  but 
into  Cuba  to 

Fayal  for  St. 
Dston  ;  divost- 
cccd    on    her 

ilurcd  also  by 
[)roperty,  and 

mt  the  sloop 
'^0  of  fish, 
land,   for  the 
1   Macedonian 

3,  from  Liver- 
ptured  by  the 
lier  most  val- 
ito  a  port  iu 

;  Salem,  with 

goods,  taken 

;  cruise. 

0  the  English 

mt,  was  cap- 

nik. 

also  captui'od 

ik.     The  Sa- 

^essful  cruise. 

othiug  worth 

ods,  was  cap- 


I 


1815.] 


THE    AMi:UIC.\N    rRIVATKKIlS. 


389 


tured  by  the  James  Monroe,  and  sent  into  Ti'Oriont, 
France,  and  from  thence  was  sent  to  New  York,  at 
which  port  she  subsequently  arrived. 

British  ship  Agenoria,  from  AVaterford  for  London, 
laden  with  provisions,  was  captured  by  the  ^fcDonoiigli, 
and  sent   into  Bricaux,  France. 

British  ship  Ashbuiton,  from  Lisbon  for  England,  was 
captured  by  the  James  Monroe,  divested  of  her  car- 
go, and  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  and  allowed  to  proceed 
on  her  voyage. 

The  British  ship  Nancy,  from  Liverpool  for  Sicily,  was 
ca])tured  by  the  Abaellino,  of  Boston,  while  cruising  in 
the  Mediterranean,  and  sent  into  Tunis. 

The  English  cutter  Joanna,  was  captured  by  the  Ma- 
cedonian, of  Portsmouth,  and  burnt. 

British  ship  Ti-iumvirate,  from  St.  Johns  Newfound- 
land, for  the  Mediterranean,  witli  tish  and  oil,  was  also 
captured  by  the  Macedonian,  and  burnt. 

Schooner  Recovery,  captured  by  the  ^Facedonian,  and 
after  having  taken  sundry  articles  of  merchandise,  gave 
her  up  to  the  prisoners  as  a  cartel. 

The  privateer  George  Little,  of  Boston,  was  captured 
by  the  English  frigate  Granicus.  The  privateer  carried 
14  guns,  and  80  men,  and  had  taken  no  prizes. 

The  British  ship  Amity,  from  Waterford  foi-  London, 
was  captured  by  the  McDonough,  and  sent  into  Morlaix, 
France. 

The  British  schooner  Swift,  of  London,  from  St. 
Michael,  laden  with  fruit,  was  captured  by  the  America, 
and  ordered  to  proceed  to  Salem.  The  prize  being  in 
want  of  provisions,  subsequently  [)ut  into  Terceira,  wlieie 
she  was  demanded  by  the  British  Consul.  It  was  said 
the  Governor  of  the  Island  ordered  her  to  be  restored 
to  her  former  owners. 


390 


THE    AMERICAN    PUFVATEEUS 


[1815. 


Brig  StafT-of-Life,  from  Liverpool  for  ITavrG-do-Grace, 
with  a  valuable  assorted  cargo,  cai)tiired  by  the  McDori- 
ough,  and  sent  into  l^'rance. 

Brig  Endeavor,  from  Falmouth  for  Liverpool, 
with  barley,  etc.,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to 
France. 

Brig  f 'eres,  fi-om  Cork  for  London,  with  a  full  cargo, 
captured  by  the  same  and  sent  to  France. 

Brig  Unity,  from  Waterford  for  J^ondon,  with  a  lull 
cargo,  captured  by  the  McDonough,  and  sent  into 
France. 

Sloop  Eliza,  from  Dublin  for  London,  with  beef  and 
butter,  captured  by  the  same,  and  sent  to  France. 

EX'I'RACT  FR05I  THE  LOG-HOOK  OF  THE  McDONOUGH. 

"  Having  put  out  all  our  men,  was  obliged  to  bear  up 
for  Franco,  and  arrived  at  Morlaix,  on  the  7th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1815.  February  16th,  an  English  man-of-war 
schooner  arrived  there,  and  anchored  within  pistol-shot 
of  our  vessel,  and  demanded  of  us  to  give  up  our  prizes  ; 
we  refused  and  being  all  ready  to  engage  her,  she  did 
not  see  fit  to  urge  the  demand." 


PRIZES  CAPTURED  1?Y  PRIVATEERS. 

British  brig  Nicholson,  of  300  tons  burthen,  mounting 
10  guns,  and  20  men,  from  Liverpool  for  Rio  Janeiro, 
with  a  valuable  cargo  of  British  goods,  was  captured  by 
the  privateer-brig  Warrior,  of  Few  York,  and  sent  to 
that  port,  where  she  subsequently  arrived  safe. 

The  British  transport-ship  Mosely,  IG  eighteen-pound 
carronades,  with  some  20  or  30  men,  from  Algoa  Bay  for 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  ballast ;  was  captured  by  the 
letter-of-marque  Rambler,  of  Boston,  and  after  divest- 


[1815. 


I8ir,.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEKKS. 


391 


vTG-tlo-Grace, 
y  tlio  McDoTJ- 

r     Liverpool, 
and  sent  to 

.  a  lull  cargo, 

I,  with  a  full 
id    sent    into 

nth  beef  and 
France. 


ONOUGH. 

cd  to  bear  up 
le  7th  of  Feb- 
i  man-of-war 
lin  pistol-shot 
p  our  prizes ; 
her,  she  did 


en,  mounting 
Rio  Janeiro, 

captured  by 

and  sent  to 
safe. 
;hteen-pound 

Igoa  Bay  for 
tured  by  the 

after  divest- 


ing her  of  sundry  articles  of  not  murh  value,  allowed 
her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The  llauibUjr  was  from 
Canton,  with  a  rich  (,^hina  cargo,  and  was  Ibrtunalc 
enough  to  arrive  safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  ship  Adule,  of  Penang,  laden  with  a  valu- 
able cargo  of  India  goods,  with  a  considerable  amount 
of  gold  dust,  was  captured  by  the  Icttcr-of-niarque  ship 
Jacob  Jones,  of  Boston,  on  her  passage  out  to  Canton. 
After  divesting  the  prize  of  the  most  valuable  part  of 
her  cargo,  allowed  her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The 
Jacob  Jones  also  ca})tured,  on  the  same  passage,  tlic 
Knglish  brig  Bourwan,  of  Penang,  laden  with  opium 
and  other  valuable;  goods.  After  removing  from  the 
prize  the  most  valuable  portion  of  her  cargo,  allowe  I 
her  to  proceed  on  her  voyage.  The  amount  of  property 
taken  from  these  two  vessels  was  wortli  $00,000.  The 
Jacob  Jones  was  a  fine  ship  of  55i  tons,  carrying  10 
ijuns,  and  07  men.  She  returned  to  Boston  with  a  full 
cargo  of  China  goods.  The  profits  on  her  voyage,  to- 
gether with  the  choice  spoils  taken  from  the  enemy  was. 
probably  in  the  result,  one  of  the  greatest  voyages  ever 
made  from  the  United  States. 

The  privateer  Macedonian  arrived  at  Portsmouth 
May  the  2d,  1815.  During  her  cruise  she  captured  and 
manned  three  vessels,  besides  what  have  been  before  re- 
corded, namely  :  brig  Margaret  and  Trevis,  with  Brit- 
ish goods  ;  ship  Somerset,  260  tons  burthen,  mounting 
4  guns  and  15  men,  laden  with  wine  and  brandy  ;  and 
the  brig  ^lercury,  with  1  GO  pipes  of  Oporto  wine,  and 
other  articles  of  merchandise. 

British  brig  Polly,  was  captured,  and  sent  into  Cadiz, 
by  the  pi'ivateer  Amelia,  of  Baltimore. 

British  brig  Elizabeth  (cargo  not  mentioned),  waa 
captured  by  the  Leo,  of  Boston,  and  burnt. 


392 


THE    AMi;UICAN    PKIVATKKUS. 


[1815. 


Brllisli  brig  Cifcorgo,  from  Priiico  rMward'H  L^laiid,  was 
also  cni)1nrtMl  by  the  Leo,  aiul  tlestroyccl. 

Cutter  Jjiiic,  from  f^t.  Michucl,  for  London,  with  a 
cargo  of  fruit,  was  also  cai)turcd  by  the  same  privateer, 
and  sent  to  France. 

Tiic  American  privateer  Sino-qua-non,  of  Boston, 
with  seven  guns  and  eiglity-one  men,  was  captured  by 
the  Englisl),  in  the  neighborhood  of  Madeira,  early  in 
February,  1815. 

British  schooner  Dunstcn  Castle,  from  Alicant  for  Mar- 
seilles, with  fruit,  was  also  captured  by  the  same  priva- 
teer, and  sent  into  Tunis. 

Three  small  Maltose  vessels  (British),  with  full  car- 
goes, were  also  captured  by  the  Abaellino,  and  sent  into 
Trii)oli. 

British  brig  Mary  and  Gilbert,  from  Naples  for 
Palermo,  was  captured  by  the  Abaellino,  and  ran- 
somed. 

British  brig  Bernadotte,  a  Maltese  vessel,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  same  privateer,  divested  of  her  cargo,  and 
given  up  to  the  prisoners. 

The  Abaellino  permitted  several  small  Maltese  vessels 
to  escape  without  captui'e. 

At  the  time  peace  was  concluded  at  Ghent,  but  not 
known  in  the  United  States,  there  were  several  large 
privateers  fitting  out  of  the  different  ports  along  the  At- 
lantic board.  Among  others,  there  was  fitted,  at  Bos- 
ton, at  that  time,  and  ready  for  sea,  a  fast-sailing  ship, 
called  the  "  Charles  Morris,"  mounting  two  long-nines, 
and  8  six-pound  carronades,  with  swords,  nuisketry,  etc., 
and  a  complement  of  100  men,  all  told.  This  efficient 
ship  was  commanded  by  a  personal  friend  of  the  author, 
Captain  Henry  Russell,  a  native  citizen  of  Bo;;ton. 

I  have  no  doubt,  had  the  war  lasted  a  few  months 


[1815. 

[I's  Ifciland,  was 

)n(l()n,  with  u 
,me  jirivatocr, 

1,  of  Boston, 
a  captured  by 
oira,  early   in 

leant  for  Mar- 
3  same  priva- 

with   full  car- 
aiid  sent  into 

1  Naples  for 
no,   and    ran- 

5sel,  was  cap- 
ler  cargo,  and 

laltese  vessels 

lent,  but  not 
several  large 
along  the  At- 
itted,  at  Bos- 
t-sailing  ship, 

0  lo'ig-nines, 
Hisketry,  etc.. 

This  efficient 
:)f  the  author, 
Bo;;ton. 

1  few  months 


I8irr] 


THE    AMKRICAN    TUIVATICKUS. 


598 


longer,  and  Captain  11.  been  permitted  to  go  to  sea,  tiiat 
he  would  have  inllicted  a  severe  blow  upon  the  com- 
merce of  the  enemy. 

Tiie  Brilisii  brig  Enteri)ixse,  from  Buenos  Ayres, 
bound  to  ]']nglund,  laden  with  hides  and  tallow,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  ship  America,  of  Salem.  The  prize  being 
leaky,  put  into  Fayal  in  distress,  where  she  was  con- 
demned as  unseaworthy.  The  cargo  was  given  in 
charge  of  the  American  Consul,  at  that  port. 

The  British  ship  Charles,  of  London,  partly  loaded 
with  oil,  from  San  Salvador,  was  captured  oil'  that 
port  by  the  Blakely,  of  Boston.  She  was  ordered  to 
proceed  to  the  United  States,  and  subseciuently  arrived 
safe  at  Boston. 

British  brig  Sailor's  Friend  was  captured  by  the  pri- 
vateer Prince  do  Neufchatel,  and  sent  into  Havre  de 
Grace,  and  after  the  peace,  she  left  that  place,  and  ar- 
rived safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  Brig  Ann  Elizabeth,  from  Amsterdam, 
was  captured  by  the  Rattlesnake,  privateer,  and  or- 
dered to  Philadelphia,  at  which  port  she  safely  ar- 
rived. 

The  British  brig  (name  not  given),  from  the  Mediterra- 
nean, bound  to  London,  with  fruit,  was  captured  by 
the  Brutus,  sent  iuto  Brest,  and  subsequently  arrived 
safe  at  Boston. 

The  British  schooner  Connnercial  Packet,  from  Trieste 
for  London,  laden  with  fruit,  was  captured  by  the  Abaci- 
lino,  of  Boston,  and  sent  into  Tunis. 

British  brig  Hope,  from  Pattras  for  London,  with 
fruit,  was  captured  by  the  same  privateer,  and  sent  into 
Tunis. 


394 


TIIK   AMERICAN    PUIVATKEUS. 


[IbiO. 


CONOI.lIDINCi  UF.MARKS  ON    TIIK  IIIS'I'OUY  OF   TIIF,  AMKIIICAN  PHI 
VATKEUS    AND    I.KTTKIW  OF-MAUylJE  ;  ALSO     ON  TllK  LATE  WAK. 
AND  ITSCONSKyUKNCKH. 

Ill  the  introduction  to  my  work,  I  observed,  that  a 
war  between  two  coinniercial  nations  was  Hiin})ly  a  trial 
wliicli  could  do  the  other  tlie  "jjivatest  liarm  ;  and  now, 
the  war  being  ended,  iny  readers  will  naturally  expect  to 
hear  how  the  account  stands  at  the  winding  up  of  the 
severe  conflict. 

This  I  will  endeavor  to  give  ;  but  before  I  proceed  to 
record  the  losses  on  both  sides,  it  may  be  well  to  give 
a  slight  sketch  of  the  gnnit  disparity  of  force  em- 
ployed at  the  commencement  of  the  war  by  the  bellig- 
erent parties. 

The  English  entered  the  contest  with  a  navy  of  one 
thousand  and  sixty  men-of-war,  eight  hundred  of 
which  were  in  commission,  and  were  effective,  cruising 
ships  or  vessels. 

To  oppose  this  immense  force,  the  United  States  had 
but  seven  eflective  frigates,  svilh  some  twelve  or  fifteen 
sloops-of-war.  Of  the  latter,  the  greater  part  were 
lying  in  the  dock-yards  repairing. 

The  war  lasted  about  three  year.s,  and  tlie  result  was, 
as  near  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  a  loss  to  Great 
Britain  of  about  two  thousand  ships  and  vessels  of 
every  description,  including  men-of-war  and  mercliant- 
men. 

Eighteen  hundred  sail  are  recorded  as  having  been 
taken,  burnt,  sunk,  or  destroyed. 

To  this  number  may  be  added  two  hundred  more, 
which  were  either  destroyed  or  considered  too  insignifi- 
cant to  be  reported  ;  making  an  aggregate  of  two 
thousand  sail  of  British  shipping  captured  by  our  lit- 


1815. 


THi:    AMDIUCAN    rillVATFKUS. 


395 


ivc,  cruising 


tie  navy,  with  the  aid  of  privateers  and  letters-oF- 
niar((UO. 

Tliis  statement  does  not  include  caijtnres  niadeoii  our 
great  lakes,  whicli  would  swell  the  nuinber  to  a  much 
larger  (igiire. 

I  hav(5  not  had  suiricient  time  in  giving  this  siuuinary 
to  ascertain,  jtrecisely,  whnt  [)ro|K)rtioii  of  tiicso  two 
thousand  vessels  were  <'iii)tured  l)y  the  Ihiited  States 
government  ships,  hut  at  a  I'ougli  estimate,  should 
judge  one-third  j)arl  of  the  whole  number,  leaving  two- 
thirds,  or,  say  thirteen  hundred  and  thirty  sail,  to  have 
been  iakeu  by  American  privateers  and  private-armed 
vessels. 

I  have  found  it  didieult  to  ascertain  the  exact  number 
of  our  own  vessels  taken  and  destroyed  by  the  English; 
but,  from  the  best  information  I  can  obtnin,  \  should 
judge  they  would  not  amount  to  more  than  five  hun- 
dred sail.  It  must  be  recollected  that  the  most  of 
our  losses  occurred  during  the  first  six  months  of 
the  war.  After  that  period,  we  had  very  few  ves- 
sels afloat,  except  privateers  and  letters-of-marquc. 

A  large  portion  of  our  merchant-ships  fortunately  re- 
turned home  within  the  first  tw^o  or  three  months  after 
the  commencement  of  tlie  war.  and  were  laid  up  out  of 
reach  of  the  enemy.  Some  of  them  were  taken  up  our 
navigable  rivers,  and  others  dismantled  in  secure 
places. 

A  few  of  our  East  Tndiamen  and  whaling  ships,  the 
commanders  of  which  had  no  knowledge  of  the  war, 
were  captured  on  their  return  home,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  at  the  mouths  of  our  own  harbors  ;  but,  thank 
God,  they  were  not  many. 

On  the  other  hand  our  men-of-war  and  privateers  con- 


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390 


THE    AMEUICAN    rUIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


tinned  to  harass  and  prey  upon  British  trade  and  com- 
merce, during  the  whole  period  of  the  contest,  and  even 
after  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed. 

In  those  times  there  were  no  ocean  steamers,  to  cross 
the  Atlantic  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  nor  any  magnetic 
telegraphs  to  commuin'cate  news  between  distant  cities. 
For  this  reason,  it  not  unfrequently  occurred  that  we 
were  without  news  from  Europe  for  a  period  of  fifty  or 
sixty  days. 

The  great  battle  of  Xcw  Orleans  was  fought  and  won 
by  General  eJackson,  fifteen  days  after  the  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed  at  Ghent.  So  also  the  sloop-of-war 
Penguin  was  captured,  by  Captain  Biddle,  in  the  Hor- 
net, three  months  after. 

I  have  recorded  a  long  list  of  prizes  made  by  our  pri- 
vateers and  letters-of-marque,  that  w^cre  cruising  in  dis- 
tant seas,  and  had  not  heard  of  the  peace. 

In  this  estimate  of  losses  by  the  belligerent  parties,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  I  am  not  writing  a  history 
of  the  war,  but  simply  of  the  privateers,  and  private- 
armed  vessels,  with  the  addition  of  a  few.  naval  victories 
on  the  broad  ocean,  by  the  United  States  ships-of-war. 

I  have  but  slightly  alluded  to  the  splendid  victories 
gained  by  the  United  States  vc-scls  over  entire  fleets  of 
the  enemy  on  our  great  Lakes. 

Neither  does  it  come  within  the  province  of  this  his- 
tory to  record  the  barbarous  transactions  of  the  English 
at  Washington,  in  their  wanton  destruction  of  that  city, 
and  many  other  acts  of  a  kindred  nature. 

Xor  shall  I  enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  the  gallant 
destruction  of  Havre-de-Grace,  Hampton,  and  many 
other  small  defenceless  villages,  by  these  modern  Goths, 
led  by  the  redoubtable  Sir  George  Cockburn,  of  famous 
memory.     All  these  illustrious  acts  and  deeds  have  be- 


.. 

•   ■; 

iliii 

illitr: 

[1815. 


1815.J 


THE     AMERICAN    J'UIV ATHIMty. 


397 


aclc  and  coni- 
test,  and  even 

mers,  to  cross 
any  magnetic 
distant  cities, 
irred  that  we 
iod  of  fifty  or 

Jght  and  won 
the  treaty  of 
!  sloop-of-war 
3,  in  the  Hor- 

le  by  our  pri- 
uising  in  dis- 

n\i  parties,  it 
:ing  a  history 
and  privatc- 
iival  victories 
hips-of-war. 
did  victories 
tire  fleets  of 

;e  of  this  his- 
the  English 
of  that  city, 

)f  the  gallant 
and  many 
)dern  Goths, 
1,  of  famous 
ids  have  be- 


come matters  of  history,  and  })een  recorded  ])y  more  able 
pens  than  mine.  I  only  allude  en  passant,  to  these  me- 
morable insta?iccs  of  English  hunianily,  as  evidences  of 
their  vaunted  boast  of  superior  civilization. 

Contrast  these  acts  with  those  of  the  French.  Bona- 
parte, in  his  successful  career,  over-ran  the  greater  part 
of  continental  l^urope,  and  took  most  of  its  capital 
cities,  but  in  no  instance  did  he  ever  destroy  one  of 
them. 

The  English  landed  from  their  men-of-war,  made  a 
forced  march  ujjon  Washington,  burnt  it,  and  then  hur- 
ried back  to  their  ships. 

I  deem  it  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  this  subject,  as 
it  is  familiar  to  every  intelligent  American. 

My  object  in  referring  to  these  by-gone  scenes  is,  to 
warn  the  present  generation,  not  to  sleep  at  their 
posts,  nor  to  rely  on  British  magnanimity  for  se- 
curity. 

More  than  forty-one  years  have  elapsed  since  the  am- 
bassadors of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  signed 
the  treaty  of  peace,  at  Ghent,  and  the  most  of  those  who 
bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  war  have  passed  away. 
The  few  surviving  leaders,  and  those  who  distinguished 
themselves  in  those  exciting  times,  are  rapidly  disap- 
pearing from  among  their  brethren,  and  will  soon  only 
live  on  the  pages  of  their  country's  history. 

Having  now  brought  my  account  of  the  i)rivateers  and 
letters-of-marque  to  a  close,  I  hope  every  dispassionate 
American  will  agree  with  me,  that  it  was  beyond  all 
doubt,  owing  to  the  good  seamanship  and  gallant  bra- 
very of  our  little  navy,  in  combination  with  the  indefati- 
gable annoyance  of  the  privateers  and  letters-of-marque, 
that  an  honorable  peace  was  so  soon  restored  to  our  be- 
loved country. 


398 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


And  lierc  I  would  respectfully  ask  my  readers  to  re- 
fleet  for  a  moment,  on  the  inmiense  advantages  this  war 
has  conferred  upon  the  United  States. 

In  my  opinion,  it  has  advanced  the  nation  more  than 
half  a  century  in  wealth  and  prosperity.  It  has  given 
us  a  navy  in  which  the  whole  nation  has  the  most  en- 
tire confidence,  has  been  the  cause  of  fortifying  our  sea- 
ports, has  built  up  our  manufactories,  and  enriched  the 
country  hi  a  thousand  other  ways  by  developing  its 
resources. 

It  has  given  us  a  homo  feeling  of  self-reliance  on  our 
own  strength,  and  power  to  protect  ourselves  against 
foreign  aggression.  And  what  is  far  above  every  other 
consideration,  it  has  given  us  a  national  character,  and 
caused  our  Hag  to  be  respected  in  every  part  of  the 
world.  It  has  inspired  every  individual  American  with 
a  feeling  of  self-respect,  and  a  stronger  and  deeper  love 
for  his  country's  honor  and  glory  ;  and  it  continues  to 
cherish  a  growing  feeling  of  patriotism,  which,  after  all, 
is  a  nation's  surest  and  best  protection. 

Since  our  war  with  England,  an  American  citizen, 
whether  at  home  or  abroad,  is  not  ashamed  to  hold  up 
his  head,  to  defend  and  sustain  the  honor  of  his-  native 
land.  '  '      • 

After  the  dastardly  attack  on  the  frigate  Chesapeake, 
by  the  British,  we  were  often  made  to  blush  for  the 
honor  of  our  country.  But,  mice  the  war,  what  Amer- 
ican is  there  that  does  not  feel  his  heart  warm  with  gra- 
titude, and  his  pulse  beat  quicker  when  reading  our 
numerous  naval  victories. 

M}''  book  is  written  in  a  spirit  of  truth  and  justice,  and 
though  I  have  enumerated  many  wrongs  and  insults  in- 
flicted upon  us  m  our  national  infancy,  still  I  would 
counsel  the  young  men  of  the  present  generation,  not  to 


[1815. 

readers  to  re- 
tages  this  war 

ion  more  than 
It  has  given 
?  the  most  en- 
ifying  our  sua- 
1  enriched  tlie 
developing  its 

ilianec  on  our 
•selves  against 
vc  every  other 
character,  and 
ry  part  of  the 
\.merican  with 
id  deeper  love 
t  continues  to 
hich,  after  all, 

erican  citizen, 
ed  to  hold  up 
of  his-  native 

e  Chesapeake, 
)  blush  for  the 

what  Amer- 
rarm  withgra- 

reading  our 

d  justice,  and 
md  insults  in- 
still I  would 
eration,  not  to 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATKERS. 


309 


indulge  in  a  revengeful  spirit.  T  hope  and  tni- i  iln\v 
will  ever  cherish  a  vigilant  watclifulness  over  the  liber- 
ties of  their  country.  They  must  "  remcnihcr  to  ask  from 
other  nations  nothing  that  is  not  clearly  right,  nor  sub- 
mit to  any  thing  tint  is  palpably  wrong." 

This  is  the  road  all  great  nations  have  travelled,  and 
the  only  sure  one  that  leads  to  greatness  and  undying 
glory. 

Notwithstanding  what  I  have  said  respecting  our  late 
war  with  England,  I  would  not  be  understood  as  being 
in  favor  of  another  war  with  that  nation,  at  present. 
On  the  contrary,  I  see  no  sufllcient  cause  of  war  be- 
tween the  two  countries,  and  there  arc  a  thousand  rea- 
sons why  we  should  cultivate  the  most  friendly  relations 
for  our  mutual  benefit. 

Our  country  having  become  strong  and  powerful,  I 
hope  we  shall  not  hereafter  enter  into  war  with  any 
power  weaker  than  ourselves,  on  account  of  slight  or 
imaginary  wrongs.  But  should  any  great  nation  oQer 
us  insult,  or  invade  one  foot  of  our  territory,  I  hope 
every  man  capable  of  beai'ing  arms  will  rush  to  the  res- 
cue, and  that  the  young  men  will  march  in  a  solid  pha- 
lanx to  meet  the  foe.  Should  they  fall  in  the  conflict, 
they  will  fall  with  the  glorious  consolation,  that  their 
memories  will  be  for  ever  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of 
their  countrymen. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  onb:  to  express  the  regret  that 
I  did  not  commence  my  book  a  year  sooner.  I  am  now 
nearly  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and  being  fearful  that 
T  might  drop  off  before  I  could  see  it  published,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  devote  as  much  time  and  care  to  its 
composition,  as  the  subject  deserves. 

But  should  it  please  God  to  prolong  my  life  a  few 


400 


THE    AMEIUCAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


years,  I  hope  to  be  enabled  to  correct  some  errors  and 
omissions  that  may  be  observed  in  this  liistory.  Such 
as  it  is,  however,  whether  for  good  or  for  evil,  with  all 
its  faults  and  deficiencies,  I  now  present  it  to  the  Amer- 
ican public,  to  sink  or  swim  on  its  own  merits. 


THE  AUTHOR. 


Brooklyn,  New  York,  May,  1866. 


TREA.TY    OF    I>Ei^CE. 

JAMES     MADISON, 

PRESIDENT    or    THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA, 

To  all  and  singular  to  whom  these  presents  shall  com, 
Greeting  : 

WHEREAS  a  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  between  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  his  Britannic  Majesty 
was  signed  at  Ghent,  on  the  twentv-fourtli  day  of  De- 
c^ember,  one   thousand  eiglit  hundred  and  fourteen    by 
the  plenipotentiaries  respectively  appointed  for  that  m.;- 
rose  ;  and  the  said  treaty  having  been,  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States 
duly  accepted,   ratifie .;,   and  conHnned,  on  the  seven^ 
teenth  day  of  February,  one  thousand  eiglit  hundred  and 
hfteen  ;   and  ratified  copies  thereof  having   been  ex- 
changed agreeably  to  the  tenor  of  the  said  treaty,  which 
IS  in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 


TREATY  OF  PEACE  AND  AMITY  BETWEEN  HIS  BRITANNIC  MAJFSTY 
AND  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 

His  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, desirous  of  terminating  the  war  which  has  unhap- 
pily subsisted  between  the  two  countries,  and  of  restoring 
upon  principles  of  perfect  reciprocity,  peace,  friendship' 
and  good  understanding  between  tliem,  have,  for  that 
purpose,  appointed  their  respective  plenipotentiaries, 
26  (401) 


■102 


THE   AMKUICAN    I'lUVATKERS. 


[1815. 


that  is  to  sjiy  :  his  Britannic  Majesty,  on  his  part,  has 
appointed  the  Right  Honorable  James,  Lord  (jianibier, 
late  Admiral  of  the  white,  now  Admiral  of  the  red 
squadron  of  his  Majesty's  fleet,  Henry  Goulburn,  Esq., 
a  member  of  the  Imperial  TarHament,  and  Undersecre- 
tary of  State,  and  William  Adams,  Esq.,  doctor  of  civil 
laws  : — And  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by 
and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof, 
has  appointed  John  Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard, 
Henry  Clay,  Jonathan  Russell  and  Albert  Gallatin,  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States,  who  after  a  reciprocal  com- 
munication of  their  respective  full  powers,  have  agreed 
upou  the  following  articles  : 


ARTICLE  THE  FIRST. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  universal  peace  between 
his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United  States,  and  be- 
tween their  respective  countries,  territories,  cities,  towns, 
and  people,  of  every  degree,  without  exception  of  places 
or  persons.  All  hostilities,  both  by  sea  and  land,  shall 
cease  as  soon  as  this  treaty  shall  have  been  ratified  by 
both  parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned.  All  territory, 
places,  and  possessions  whatsoever,  taken  from  either 
party  by  the  other,  during  the  war,  or  which  may  be 
taken  after  the  signing  of  this  treaty,  excepting  only  the 
Islands  hereinafter  mentioned,  shall  be  restored  without 
delay,  and  without  causing  any  destruction,  or  carrying 
away  any  of  the  artillery  or  other  public  property  ori- 
ginally captured  in  the  said  forts  or  places,  and  which 
shall  remain  therein  upon  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica- 
tions of  this  treaty,  or  any  slaves  or  other  priviite  pro- 
perty. And  all  archives,  records,  deeds,  and  papers, 
either  of  a  public  nature,  or  belonging  to  private  persons, 


[1815. 

I  his  pint,  has 
jord  (iiinibier, 
i-al  of  the  red 
oiilburn,  Esq., 
I  Under  Secre- 
doctor  of  civil 
:ed  States,  by 
senate  thereof, 
les  A.  Bayard, 
t  Gallatin,  citi- 
•eciprocal  com- 
s,  have  agreed 


1815.] 


TUE    AMERICAN    TIIIVATEEUS. 


403 


which,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  may  have  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  the  officers  of  either  party,  shall  be  as  far 
as  may  be  j)racti('able,  forthwith  restored  and  delivered 
to  the  proper  authorities  and  persons  to  whom  they  re- 
spectively belong.  Such  of  the  Islands  in  the  Bay  of 
Passamaquoddy  as  ai-e  claimed  by  both  parties,  shall 
remain  in  the  possession  of  the  party  in  whose  occujja- 
tion  they  may  be  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the 
ratifications  of  this  treaty,  until  the  decision  respecting 
the  title  to  the  said  Islands  shall  have  been  made  in  con- 
formity with  the  fourth  article  of  this  treaty.  No  dis- 
position made  by  this  treaty,  as  to  such  possession  of 
the  Islands  and  territories  claimed  by  both  parties,  shall, 
in  any  manner  whatever,  be  construed  to  affect  the  right 
of  either. 


peace  between 
ptates,  and  be- 
s,  cities,  towns, 

3tion  of  places 
and  land,  shall 
een  ratified  by 

All  territory, 
n  from  either 
which  may  be 
epting  only  the 
stored  without 
3n,  or  carrying 
c  property  ori- 
ces,  and  which 
of  the  ratifica- 

r  priviite  pro- 

5,  and  papers, 
)rivate  persons, 


AKTICLE   THE    SECOND. 

Immediately  after  the  r.atifications  of  this  treaty  by 
both  parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  orders  shall  be 
sent  to  the  armies,  squadrons,  officers,  subjects  and  citi- 
zens, of  the  two  powers  to  cease  from  all  hostilities  :  And 
to  prevent  all  causes  of  complaint  which  might  arise  on 
account  of  the  prizes  which  might  be  taken  at  sea  after 
the  said  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  it  is  reciprocally 
agreed,  that  all  vessels  and  effects  which  may  be  taken 
after  the  space  of  twelve  days  from  the  said  ratifications, 
upon  all  parts  of  the  coast  of  North  America,  from  the 
latitude  of  twenty-three  degrees  north,  to  the  latitude 
of  fifty  degrees  north,  and  as  far  eastward  in  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean,  as  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of  west  longitude 
from  the  meridian  of  Greenwich,  shall  be  restored  to 
each  side  :  That  the  time  shall  be  thirty  days  in  all  other 
parts  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  north  of  the  equinoctial  line 


404 


Tin;    A.MKIIICAN    riilVATKERS. 


[1815. 


or  equator,  and  the  same  time  for  the  BritLsli  and  Irish 
Channels,  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  all  parts  of  the 
West  Indies  :  forty  days  for  the  North  Seas,  for  the  15al- 
tic,  and  for  all  parts  of  the  Mediterranean  :  sixty  days 
for  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  south  of  the  equator  as  far  as 
the  latitude  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  :  ninety  days  for 
every  part  of  the  world  south  of  the  equator  :  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  days  for  all  other  parts  of  the  world, 
without  exception. 

ARTICLE  THE  THIRD. 

All  prisoners  of  war  taken  on  either  side,  as  well  by 
land  as  by  sea,  shall  be  restored  as  soon  as  practi(;ab]e 
after  the  ratification  of  this  treaty,  as  hereinafter  men- 
tioned, on  their  paying  the  debts  which  they  may  have 
contracted  during  their  captivity.  The  two  contracting 
parties  respectively  engage  to  discharge  in  specie,  the 
advances  which  may  have  been  made  by  the  other  for 
the  sustenance  and  maintenance  of  such  prisoners. 


ARTICLE  THE   FOURTH. 


Whereas  it  was  stipulated  by  the  second  article  in  the 
treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
three,  between  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  United 
States  of  America,  that  the  boundary  of  the  United 
States  should  comprehend  all  Islands  within  twenty 
leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States, 
and  lying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  east  from  the 
points  where  the  aforesaid  boundaries,  between  Nova 
Scotia,  on  the  one  part,  and  East  Florida  on  the  other, 
shall  respectively  touch  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  At- 
lantic Ocean,  excepting  such  Islands  as   now  are,  or 


[1815. 

ritish  and  Irish 
ill  parts  of  the 
tis,  for  the  Bal- 
an  :  sixty  days 
[uator  as  far  as 
ninety  days  for 
lator :  and  one 
ts  of  the  world, 


1816.J 


TlIK    AMKUICAN    I'UIVATKEUS, 


105 


aide,  as  well  by 
as  practi(!able 
ereinafter  mcn- 
tliey  may  have 
two  contracting 
e  in  specie,  the 
y  the  other  for 
prisoners. 


id  article  in  the 
Iredandeighty- 
nd  the  United 
of  the  United 
within  twenty 
United  States, 
I  east  from  the 
between  Nova 
I  on  the  other, 
y,  and  the  At- 
now  are,  or 


heretofore  have  been,  within  the  limits  of  Xova  Si'otia  ; 
and  whereas  the  several  Islands  in  tho  Hay  of  i'ussama- 
qiioddy,  whicli  is  part  of  the  Hay  of  Fuudy,  and  the 
Island  of  Grand  Menan  in  the  said  Bay  of  Fundy,  art' 
claimed  by  the  United  States  as  being  ('()mi)r('lu'n(lod 
within  their  aforesaid  boundaries,  which  said  Islands  are 
claimed  as  belonging  to  his  Britannic  Majesty,  as  having 
been  at  the  time  of,  and  i)revious  to,  the  afoi-esaid  treaty 
of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eigiity-tbnM'  within 
the  limits  of  the  provin(.*e  of  Nova  Scotia:  In  order, 
therefore,  linally  to  decide  upon  these  claims,  it  is  agreed 
that  they  shall  be  referred  to  two  connnissioners,  to  be 
appointed  in  the  following  manner,  viz.,  one  ccmimis- 
sioner  shall  be  appointed  by  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and 
one  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senat(>  thereof,  and  the 
said  two  connnissioners  so  appointed  shall  be  sworn  im- 
partially to  examine  and  decide  upon  the  said  claims 
according  to  such  evidence  as  shall  be  laid  before  them 
on  the  part  of  his  Britaimic  Majesty  and  of  the  United 
States  respectively.  The  said  commissioners  shall  meet 
at  St.  Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New  Ih'unswick,  and 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such  other  place  or  places 
as  they  shall  think  fit.  The  said  commissioners  shall, 
by  a  declaration  or  report  under  their  hands  and  seals, 
decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting  pai'ties  the  seve- 
ral Islands  aforesaid  do  respectively  belong,  in  con- 
formity with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace 
of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three-  And 
if  the  said  commissioners  shall  agree  in  their  decision, 
both  parties  shall  consider  such  decision  as  final  and  con- 
clusive. It  is  further  agreed,  that  in  the  event  of  the 
two  commissioners  differing  upon  all  or  any  of  the  mat- 
ters so  referred  to  them,  or  in  the  event  of  both  or 


40G 


TlIK     AMKKICAN     riilVATKKRS. 


[1816. 


cither  of  tho  miid  comiiiiHsioncrs  rcfusiiif^,  or  di'diniug, 
or  wilfully  oniilliuf^,  lo  act  uh  .such,  (hoy  .shall  muke, 
jointly  or  .scpjiruloly,  a  report  or  rcport.s,  a.s  wrll  to  the 
govorniuont  of  hi.s  Britannic  Majesty  as  to  thai  of  the 
United  States,  .statin<;  in  detail  the  i)oiiits  on  which  tla^y 
diirer,  and  the  j^roundH  upon  which  their  respective 
opinions  have  been  formed,  or  the  p;rounds  upon  which 
they,  or  either  of  I  hem,  have  .so  i-efused,  declined,  or 
omitted  to  act.  And  hi.s  Ih'itannic;  Majesty,  and  the  go- 
vennnent  of  the  I'nited  States  hereby  agi'ee  to  refer  the 
report  or  reports  of  the  said  eomnii.ssioners,  to  some 
friendly  sovereign  or  .state,  to  be  then  named  for  that 
j)urpose,  and  who  .shall  be  reqne.sted  to  decide  on  the 
diffeiences  which  may  be  stated  in  the  said  re})ort  or 
roport.s,  or  upon  the  report  of  one  commissioner,  toge- 
ther with  the  ground.s  upon  which  the  other  commis- 
sioner shall  have  refusiMl,  declined,  or  omitted  to  act,  as 
the  ca.se  may  be.  And  if  the  eonnnis.sioner  so  refusing, 
declining,  or  omitting  to  act,  LduiU  also  wilfully  omit  to 
state  the  grounds  upon  which  he  has  so  done,  in  such 
manner  that  the  said  statement  may  be  referred  to  such 
friendly  sovereign  or  state,  together  with  the  rejjort  of 
such  other  conunissioner,  then  such  sovereign  oi'  state 
shall  decide  ex  parte  upon  the  said  report  alone.  And 
his  Britannic  Majesty  and  the  government  of  the  United 
States  engage  to  consider  the  decision  of  some  friendly 
sovereign  or  state  to  be  such  and  conclusive  on  all  the 
matters  so  referred. 


ARTICLE  THE  FIFTH. 


Whereas  neither  that  point  of  the  high  lands  lying 
due  north  from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  and 
designated  in  the  former  treaty  of  peace  between  the 


1815.] 


TIIK    AMHUICAN    I'lUVATr.KRS. 


•101 


•t  alone.     And 


two  powors  as  llio  iinrtliwost  iiii^'lc  of  Xovji  Soot  in.  now 
tlie  nortli-wi'slennost  lictul  of  Coiuiccliciit  rivci',  liiis  yet 
been  iiscertiiined  ;  and  whereas  that  i)art  ol'llic  lioiin- 
dary  line  helween  (lie  doininiou  of  the  two  jiowcis 
whi<di  extends  from  the  soiiree  of  .lie  river  St.  (Voix 
dircetly  north  lo  the  al)()ve-nientioiied  norlh-W(.'.>t  an;:;!*' 
of  Nova  Seotia,  thence  alon<;  the  said  highlands  wliieh 
divide  those  rivers  that  empty  themselves  into  tlie  rivei- 
St.  Lawreneo  I'rom  those  whieh  tall  into  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  the  north-westermost  liead  of  Coniu^'ticut 
river,  theneo  down  ah)ng  tl»c  middle  of  the  river  to  the 
forty-fifth  decree  of  north  latitude  ;  thence  hy  a  line  due 
west  ou  said  latitude  until  it  strikes  the  river  Iroquois 
or  Cataraguy  has  not  heen  surveyed  : — It  is  agreed  that 
for  these  several  purposes  two  connnissioners  shall  be 
apj)ointed,  sworn,  and  authorized,  to  act  exactly  in  the 
manner  direct(?d  with  respect  to  those  mentioned  in  the 
next  preceding  article,  unless  otherwise  specilled  in  the 
j)resent  article.  The  said  cfnnmissioners  shall  meet  at 
St.  Andi'cws,  in  the  province  of  New  l^runsv/ick,  and 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  such  other  place  or 
places  as  they  shall  think  fit.  Tlie  said  connnissioners 
shall  have  power  to  ascertain  and  determine  the  points 
above-mentioned,  in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  the 
said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three,  and  shall  cause  the  boundary  aforesaid, 
from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix  to  the  river  Iro- 
quois or  Cataraguy,  to  be  surveyed  and  marked  accord- 
ing to  the  said  provisions.  The  said  commissioners  shall 
make  a  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and  annex  to  it  a 
declaration  under  their  hands  and  seals,  certifying  it  to 
be  the  true  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and  particular- 
izing the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the  north-west  angle 
of  Nova  Scotia,  of  the  north-westermost  head  of  Conncc- 


408 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


ticut  river,  and  of  such  other  points  of  the  same  boun- 
dary as  they  may  deem  proper.  And  both  parties  agree 
to  consider  such  map  and  declaration  as  fi"  ally  and  con- 
clusively fixing  the  said  boundary.  And  in  the  event  of 
the  said  two  commissioners  differing,  or  both,  or  either 
of  them,  refusing,  or  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting  to 
act,  such  repoiLS,  declarations,  or  statements,  shall  be 
made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  reference  to 
:i  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made,  in  all  re- 
spects as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  con- 
tained, and  in  as  full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein 
r;->peatod. 

ARTICLE  THE  SIXTH. 

Whereis,  by  the  former  treaty  of  peace  that  portion 
of  the  boyndary  of  the  United  States  from  the  point 
where  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  strikes  the 
river  Iroquois  or  Cataraguy  to  the  Lake  Superior,  was 
declared  to  be  "  along  the  middle  of  said  river  into  Lake 
Ontario,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it  strikes 
the  communication  by  water,  between  that  Lake  and 
Lake  Erie,  thence  along  the  middle  of  said  communica- 
tion into  Lake  Erie,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake 
until  it  arrives  at  the  water  communication  into  the  Lake 
Huron,  thence  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  to  the 
water  communication  between  that  lake  and  Lake  Su- 
perior." And  whereas  doubts  have  arisen  what  was 
the  middle  of  said  river,  lakes  and  water  communications, 
and  whether  certain  Islands  lying  in  the  same  were 
within  the  dominions  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  or  of 
the  United  States  :  In  order,  therefore,  finally  to  decide 
these  doubts,  thov  shall  be  referred  to  two  commission- 
ers, to  be  aj^pointed,  sworn,  and  authorised  to  act  ex- 
actly in  the  manner  directed  with  respect  to  those  men- 


[1815, 

5  same  boun- 
parties  agree 
ally  and  con- 
the  event  of 
)tli,  or  either 
Y  omitting  to 
mts,  shall  bo 
L  reference  to 
ide,  in  all  re- 
irticle  is  con- 
ic was  herein 


1815.] 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


409 


that  portion 

om  the  point 

de  strikes  the 

Superior,  was 

ver  into  Lake 

ntil  it  strikes 

lat  Lake  and 

communica- 

of  said  lake 

into  the  Lake 

lake  to  the 

nd  Lake  Su- 

n  what  was 

imunications, 

same  were 

ajesty  or  of 

ally  to  decide 

commission- 

d  to  act  ex- 

0  those  men- 


tioned in  the  next  preceding  article,  unless  otherwise 
specified  in  this  present  article.  The  said  commission- 
ers shall  meet,  in  the  first  instance,  at  Albany,  in  tlie 
State  of  New  York,  and  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  to 
such  other  plice  or  places  as  they  shall  think  fit :  Tlie 
said  connnissioners  shall,  by  a  report  or  declaration,  un- 
der thoir  hands  and  seals,  designate  the  boundary 
through  the  said  river,  lakes,  and  water  comnuuiications, 
and  decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting  parties  the 
several  Islands  lyuig  within  the  said  river,  lakes,  and 
water  communications,  do  respectively  belong,  in  con- 
formity with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  aiid  eighty-three.  And  both 
parties  agree  to  consider  such  designation  and  decision 
as  final  and  conclusive.  And  in  the  event  of  the  said 
two  commissioners  differing,  or  both,  or  either*  of  them, 
refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting  to  act,  such  re- 
ports, declarations  or  statements,  shall  be  made  by  them, 
or  either  of  them,  and  such  reference  to  a  friendly  sover- 
eign or  state  shall  be  made  in  all  respects  as  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  contained,  and  in  as 
full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 


ARTICLE  THE   SEVENTH. 

It  is  further  agreed  that  the  said  two  last  mentioned 
commissioners,  after  they  shall  have  executed  the  duties 
assigned  to  them  in  the  precedhig  article,  shall  be  and 
they  are  hereby  authorized,  upon  their  oaths  .'mpartially 
to  fix  and  determine,  according  to  the  true  intent  of  the 
said  treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-three,  that  part  of  the  boundary  between  the  do- 
minions of  the  two  powers,  which  extends  from  the 
water  communication  between  Lake  Huron  and  Lake 


410 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1815. 


Superior,  to  the  most  north-western  point  of  the  hike 
of  tlie  AVoods,  to  decide  to  which  of  the  two  parties  the 
several  Islands  lying  in  the  lakes,  water  communications, 
and  rivers,  forming  the  said  boundary,  do  respectively 
belong,  in  conformity  with  the  true  intent  of  the  said 
treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eightj'-tbree  ;  and  to  cause  such  parts  of  the  said  boun- 
dary, as  require  it,  to  be  surveyed  and  marked.  The 
said  commissioners  shall,  by  a  report  or  declaration  un- 
der their  hands  and  seals,  designate  the  boundary  afore- 
said, state  their  decision  on  the  points  thus  referred  to 
them,  and  particularize  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  the 
most  north-western  point  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  and 
of  such  other  parts  of  the  said  boundary  as  they  may 
deem  proper.  And  both  particj  agree  to  consider  such 
designation  and  decision  as  final  and  conclusive.  And, 
in  the  event  of  the  said  two  commissioners  differing,  or 
both,  or  either  of  them  refusing,  declining,  or  wilfully 
omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations,  or  statements, 
shall  be  made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  re- 
ference to  a  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made  in 
all  respects,  as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is 
contained,  and  in  as  full  a  manner  as  if  the  same  was 
herein  repeated. 


ARTICLE  THE   EIGHTH. 


The  several  boards  of  two  commissioners  mentioned  in 
the  four  preceding  articles,  shall  respectively  have  power 
to  appoint  a  secretary,  and  to  employ  such  surveyors  or 
other  persons  as  they  shall  judge  necessary.  Duplicates 
of  all  their  respective  reports,  declarations,  statements 
and  decisions,  and  of  their  accounts,  and  of  the  journal 
of  their  proceedings,  shall  be  dehvered  by  them  to  the 
agents  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  to  the  agents  of  the 


1815.] 


THE    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS, 


411 


e  same  was 


United  States,  who  may  be  respectively  ap[)oiiite(l  and 
authorized  to  manage  the  business  on  behalf  of  their  re- 
spective governments.  The  said  conmnssionci's  shall  be 
respectively  paid  in  such  manner  as  siiall  be  agreed  be- 
tween the  two  contracting  parties,  such  agreement  being 
to  be  settled  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica- 
tions of  this  treaty.  And  all  other  expenses  attending 
the  said  commissioners  shall  be  defrayed  equally  by  the 
two  parties.  And  in  the  case  of  death,  sickness,  resig- 
nation, or  necessary  absence,  the  place  of  every  such 
commissioner  respectively  shall  be  supi)lied  in  the  same 
manner  as  such  commissioner  was  lirst  appointed,  and 
the  new  commissioner  shall  take  the  same  oath  or  affirm- 
ation, and  do  the  same  duties.  It  is  further  agreed  be- 
tween thn  two  contracting  parties,  that  in  case  any  of 
the  islands  mentioned  in  any  of  the  preceding  articles, 
which  were  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  parties  prior 
to  the  commencement  of  the  present  war  between  the 
two  countries,  should,  by  the  decision  of  any  of  the 
boards  of  commissioners  aforesaid,  or  of  the  sovereign 
or  state  so  referred  to,  as  in  the  four  next  preceding 
articles  contained,  fall  within  the  dominions  of  the  other 
party,  all  grants  of  land  made  previous  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  by  the  party  having  had  such 
possession,  shall  be  as  valid  as  if  such  island  or  islands, 
had  by  such  decision  or  decisions,  been  adjudged  to  be 
within  the  dominions  of  the  party  having  had  such  pos- 
session. 


ARTICLE  THE  NINTH. 


The  United  States  of  America  engage  to  put  an  end 
immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty, 
to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  nations  of  Indians, 


412 


THE   AMERICAN  PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


with  whom  they  may  be  at  war  at  the  time  of  such  rati- 
fication ;  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or 
nations,  respectively,  all  the  possessions,  rights  and  pri- 
vileges, which  they  may  have  enjoyed  or  been  entitled 
to  in  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eleven,  previous 
to  such  hostilities :  Provided  always,  that  such  tribes  or 
nations  shall  agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities,  against 
the  United  States  of  America,  their  citizens  and  subjects, 
upon  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified 
to  such  tribes  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly. 
And  his  Britannic  Majesty  engages,  on  his  part,  to  put 
an  end  immediately  after  the  ratification  of  the  present 
treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the  tribes  or  nations  of  In- 
dians with  whom  he  may  be  at  war  at  the  time  of  such 
ratification,  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or 
nations,  respectively  all  the  possessions,  rights,  and  pri- 
vileges, which  they  may  have  enjoyed  or  been  entitled 
to,  in  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eleven,  previous 
to  such  hostilities  :  Provided  always,  that  such  tribes  or 
nations  shall  agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilities  against 
his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  his  subjects,  upon  the 
ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified  to  such 
tribes  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly. 

ARTICLE  THE  TENTH. 

Whereas  the  traffic  in  slaves  is  irreconcilable  with  the 
principles  of  humanity  and  justice,  and  whereas  both  his 
Majesty  and  the  United  States  are  desirous  of  continu- 
ing their  efforts  to  promote  its  entire  abolition,  it  is  here- 
by agreed  that  both  the  contracting  parties  shall  use 
their  best  endeavors  to  accomplish  so  desirable  an 
object. 


1816.] 


THE     AMERICAN     PRIVATEERS. 


413 


ARTICLE  THE   ELEVENTH. 

This  treaty  when  the  same  shall  have  been  ratified  on 
both  sides,  without  alteration  by  either  of  the  contract- 
ing parties,  and  the  ratifications  mutually  exchanged, 
shall  be  binding  on  both  parties,  and  the  ratifications 
shall  be  exchanged  at  Washington,  in  the  space  of  four 
months  from  this  day,  or  sooner  if  practicable. 

In  faith  whereof,  we  the  respective  plenipoten- 
tiaries have  signed  this  treaty,  and  have 
thereunto  affixed  our  seals. 


Done  in  triplicate,  at  Ghent,  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fourteen. 

L.  s.)  Gambier, 

L.  s.)  Henry  Goulburn, 

L.  s.)  "William  Adams, 

L.  s.)  John  Quincy  Adams, 

L.  s.)  J.  A.  Bayard, 

L.  s.)  H.  Clay, 

L.  s.)  Jona.  Russell, 

L.  s.)  Albert  Gallatin. 


Now  therefjre,  to  the  end  that  the  said  treaty  of  peace 
a^d  amity  may  be  observed  with  good  faith,  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  I,  James  Madison,  president  as 
aforesaid,  have  caused  the  premises  to  be  made  public 
and  I  do  hereby  enjoin  all  persons  bearing  office,  civil 
or  miUtary,  within  the  United  States,  and  all  others, 


414 


TUE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


[1816. 


citizens  or  inhabitants  thereof,  or  being  within  the  same, 
faithfully  to  observe  and  fulfil  the  said  treaty  and  every 
clause  and  article  thereof. 


(l.  s.) 


In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  caused  the  seal 
of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed  to  these 
presents,  and  signed  the  same  with  my 
hand. 


Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  eigh- 
teenth day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fif- 
teen, and  of  the  sovereignty  and  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  the  thirty- 
ninth. 

JAMES   MADISON. 


By  the  President, 
JAMES  MONROE,  AcHng  Secretary  of  State. 


[1816. 

rithin  the  same, 
eaty  and  every 


caused  the  seal 
iffixed  to  these 
same   with  my 


^ton,  this  eigh- 
he  year  of  our 
undred  and  fif- 
''  and  indepen- 
Bs    the  thirty- 

MADISON. 


APPENDIX. 


yf  State. 


AN  ALPHABETICAL  LIST  OP  PKIVATEERS  AND  LETTERS-OF-MARQUE,  WITH  THE 

NAMES  OP  THE  CAPTAINS,   AND  WHERE  BELONGING,  IN 

THE   YEARS   1812,  '13,  AND  '14. 


Denomination. 

Priva'.ecr, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Lettcr-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 


Names. 

America, 

America, 

Argus, 

Atlas, 

Alfred, 

Alexander, 

Antelope, 

Adeline, 

Anaconda, 

Amelia, 

Active, 

Arrow, 

Argo, 

Avon, 

Abaellino, 

Buckskin, 

Bona, 

Bunker  Hill, 

Benj. Franklin,  Ingersol, 

Black-Joke,      Brown, 

Baltimore, 

Bellona, 

Brutus, 

Blakely, 

Blockade, 

Catherine, 

Criterion, 

Comet, 

China, 


Commanders. 

Chcvor, 

Richardson, 

Snow, 

Maffet, 

Williams, 

Crowniiigshiold, 

Craycroft, 
Shaler, 

Patterson, 
Conklin, 

Snow  &  Nye, 
Wyer, 
Bray, 
Dameron, 

Lewis, 


Austin, 
Uran, 

Burnham, 

Waterman, 

Boyle, 


Where  Beluiigtog. 

Salem. 

Baltimore. 

Boston. 

Philadelphia 

Salem. 

Salem. 

Newburyport. 

Philadelphia. 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

Salem. 

Xew  York. 

Baltimore. 

Boston. 

Boston. 

Salem, 

Baltimore. 

New  York. 

New  York. 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

Philadelphia. 

Boston. 

Boston 

Bristol. 

Boston. 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

New  York. 


(415) 


416 


THE   AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


iii 


nenominatwn. 

Letter-of-Marquo, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of'-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

ii'rivateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque. 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer. 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marq  u  e, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 


Kame«.  Comninnclcm. 

Clara, 

Caroline,  Almeda, 

Com.  Decatur,  Brown, 

Chasseiir,  Boyle, 

Cossack,  Upton, 

Cadet, 

Oarlew,  Wm.  Wyer, 

Charles  Morris,  Russell, 

Cossack, 

Ohas.  Stewart,  Purcell, 

Cumberland, 

Cbamplain, 

Oastigator, 

Dolphin,  Stafford, 

Dolphin,  Endicot, 

Dromo, 

Decatur,  Nickols, 

Decatur,  Diron, 

Dart,  Davis, 

Divided  we  fall  Oropsey, 

Diomede,  Briggs, 

Delila, 

Delisle, 

Dash, 

Dash,  Carroway, 

Dash, 

David  Porter,  Ooggeshall, 

Diamond, 

Eagle, 

Eagle,  Beaufon, 

Eldridge  Gerry, 

Expedition, 

Eliza, 

Enterprize, 

Fame, 

Fame, 

Fair-Trader, 

Fox, 

Fox, 

Fly, 


Morgan, 

Webb, 

Green, 

Morgan, 

Jack, 

Handy  and  Brow 


Wh?rp  ndoni^ing. 

Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
Baltimore. 
Salem. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Boston. 
Baltimore. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
Baltimore. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Newburyport. 
Charleston. 
Salem. 
New  York. 
Salem. 
Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 
Portland. 
Baltimore. 
Philadelphia. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
Charleston. 
New  York. 
Portland. 
Baltimore. 
Charleston. 
Salem. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
Baltimore, 
n,  Portsmouth. 
Salem. 


Tllli    AMI:R1CAX    rUlVATKERS. 


417 


rrnoniinntiun. 

Privateer, 

Li'ttor-of-Miirquc, 

Priviitcor, 

Lcttor-of-Marquc, 

I'riviitocr, 

I'rivatccr, 

rrivdtccr, 

IMvatcer, 

I'llvatcor, 

rilvntccr, 

TiCttor-()t'-!Mnr(iuc, 

I'rivutoor, 

I'livftteor, 

I'rivntcor, 

I'rivatccr, 

Lottcr-oi-M«rqno, 

I'livatccr, 

I'rivateer, 

Lctter-of-Manj^iic, 

I'rivateer, 

J,etter-of-Marquo, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

I'rivateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of'-Marquc, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Tyetter-of-Marqno, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

lietter-of-Marque, 

I'rivateer, 

Lctter-of-Marqiie, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 


Nomi'i,  roiiininnilrrii. 

Frolic,  Odiorno, 

Flirt,  Storor, 

Fairy, 

Falcon,  Ctoorgo  Wilson, 

Gov.  McKoan, 

(ilohc,  Murphy, 

G. Washington, 

Gen.  Arnistrong,Rei{l, 

(Ion.  Putnam,  FiVans, 

fJrowlcr,  Tiindsey, 

(fossatner,  (roodrich, 

(Jallinipper,       Wellinan, 

(iov.Toinpkins  Shaler, 

Grand  Turk,     Precd  Sc  (Jreen, 

Gov.  Gerry, 

(Jypsey. 

Gov.  Plunior,    Mudge, 

Gucrricre,         liarnham, 

(Jrainpus,  Murphy, 

Gen.  Htark, 

Galloway, 

George  Little,  Spooner, 

High  Flyer,      Gavet, 

Hunter, 


Holkar, 

Hyder  Ali, 

Hero, 

Hornet, 

Hero, 

Hawk, 

Hazard, 

Henry  Guilder, 

Harrison, 

Harlequin, 

Herald, 

Harpy, 

Hope, 

Industry, 

Isaac  Hull, 

Invincible, 


Upton, 

Kowland, 

Thorndike, 

Waterman, 

Frost, 


Lc  Chautier, 

E.  D.  Brown, 
Nichols, 


WliiTi*  INilongiji);. 
SaltMU. 

Now  York. 

Paltiinorc. 

Paltiinore. 

Pliiladt'lphl.i. 

Baltinior.'. 

Norfolk. 

New  York. 

Saloni. 

Salem. 

HoHton. 

Salem. 

Now  York. 

Salem. 

Fair  Haven. 

New  York. 

I'ortsmouth. 

Portsmouth. 

Paltimorc. 

Salem. 

New  York. 

lioston. 

Baltimore. 

lioHton. 

New  York. 

Boston. 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

Ncwbern. 

Washington. 

New  York. 

New  York. 

Baltimore. 

Portsmouth. 

New  York. 

I'.'iltlniore. 

Pliiladelphia. 

Marblehead. 

New  York. 

New  York. 


27 


418 


Tin:  AMKUICAN   ruiVATKinis. 


T)«mnminalion. 

Privntfor, 

Lettcr-()f-Mar(jiif, 

IVivnteor, 

I'rivutccr, 

I'rivatcor, 

I'rivatucr, 

Piivatocr, 

l.o.tt('r-iir->f)in|iio, 

Letter  of-^^!ll•l|ll(^ 

Privateer, 

Lottor-of-Miinnio, 

Privutccr, 

I'rivutecr, 

Privfttcor, 

PrivatcPT, 

Privutccr, 

Lctter-of-jMarque, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Jxtter-ot'-3lar(iiie, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Lettcr-of-Marquc, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

I'rivateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Letter-of-Marque, 


John, 


Haioin. 


N»in»t.  Cnmrnmiilfri.  Wh«r«  IVIonKinf. 

I  no,  White,  Jloston. 

Ida,  Mantor,  lloston. 

JoH'orHon,  Kehew,  Halem. 

Crfi\vniii;rnlii''I<l  ) 
and  Kaiilichl.    f 
John  &-(iieorfi;e, 
Joel  Harlow, 

Jacks  L\ivorite,  ,Joliii?>(in  Sc  Milli 
JoiHluill,  Clarniaii, 

James  Monroe,  Skinner, 
Joseph  &Mary\Vescott, 
iJacol)  Jones,  Uot)ortH, 
Kemp,  Jacobs, 

Leo, 
Lion, 
Leander, 
Leader, 

JiCo,  Coggeshall, 

]Jberty,  Pratt, 

Lady  ]\radison. 
Lovely  Lass, 
Lovely  Cordelia, 


Veasy, 


Elwcll, 
RedoiR, 


Lark,  Banker. 

Lottery,  Sonthconib, 

Ludlow, 

Lawrence, 

Leach, 

Little  George, 

Madison, 

Marengo, 

Matilda, 

Mars, 

Mars, 

Mars, 

Mars, 

]\Iary  Ann, 

^Montgomery,    Stout, 

Macedonian,      P.  Townsend, 

Macedonian, 

Midas,  Thompson, 


Hal  em. 
Boston, 
r,  New  York. 
Now  York. 
New  York, 
lialtimore. 
Boston. 
Baltimore. 
I^oston. 
Marblehead. 
Baltimore. 
I'rovideiice. 
Baltimore. 
Baltimore. 
Charleston. 
Wilmington. 
Charleston. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
Portsmouth. 
Baltimore. 
Salem. 
Boston. 
Salem. 
New  York. 
Philadelphia. 
Portsmouth. 
New  London. 
Portland. 
New  York. 
Charleston. 
Salem. 
Portsmouth. 
Boston. 
Baltimore. 


TlIK    AMRUICAN    I'RIVATEEIIS. 


419 


Pitnnriiinntion.             Vurin'*.                         (' 

oininander*.                   Wh^r^  ni>li<nf?inir. 

l•|•ivnte(^r, 

Miiiiiinoth, 

Jlaltimore. 

l'rivat(M!r, 

Miinliiiiou^li 

1 

Illiode  Island 

PrivateiT, 

M.'U'diiiioiigh, 

Hostoll. 

I'livatoor, 

Morplaimn, 

New  York. 

I'iivato(>r, 

NonHiK'li, 

Levoly, 

Jinllhnore. 

I'rivatcoir, 

Noniiarcil, 

Charleston. 

I'iivatt'cr, 

Naiiey, 

.Smart, 

Salem. 

J^('tti'r-of-Mar<|U(',, 

Nod, 

Dawson, 

Baltimore. 

L('ttor-()f-Mar(|iio, 

()rlaiid(t, 

l^iltson. 

(Jloticcster. 

Privateer, 

Owl, 

Diinean, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Orders  in 
Ooiiiicil, 

-  IToward, 

Now  York. 

Privateer, 

Polly. 

Handy, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Paul  .ronos, 

Hazzard, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

J'atriot, 

Merihew, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Poor  Sailor, 

Charleston. 

Lctter-o  f-Marq  u  o 

,  J'ilot, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

I'atapsco, 

Mortimer, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Prince  de 
Neiifchatol, 

?  Ordronaux, 

New  Y^ork. 

Privateer, 

l'rf)vident'(', 

Hopkins, 

Newport. 

Privateer, 

Perry, 

Coleman, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

l»ike. 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Portsinoutli, 

.John  Sinclair  & 
T.  M.  Shaw, 

(■  I'ortsmouth. 

Privateer, 

Rapid, 

Charleston. 

Privateer, 

Rossle, 

Barney, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Rosamond, 

(-ampan, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Rcveiif^e, 

Sinclair, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Revenge, 

Miller, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Revenge, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer, 

Regulator, 

Mansfield, 

Salem. 

Privateer, 

Rover, 

Ferris, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Right  of  Scarcli, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Retaliation, 

Newton, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Rolla, 

Dooley, 

Baltimore. 

Letter-of-Marqiio, 

Rambler, 

Edes, 

Boston. 

Privateer, 

Rattlesnake, 

Maffet, 

Philadelphia. 

Privateer, 

Roger, 

Quarles, 

Norfolk. 

Privateer. 

Resolution. 

Baltimore. 

m 


420 


THE   AMEUICAN    PUH  ATEKRS. 


Dumnminthon. 

N«iii«i. 

Ootnmknitn 

Wh«r«  tbiontiaff. 

Privntoor, 

Reindeer, 

Suow, 

HoBton. 

I'rivrttoer, 

Ranger, 

PoHton. 

I'rivatoor, 

Hnow-bird, 

Marblehead. 

I'riviitror, 

Bwonl-fiHli, 

Salem. 

Privjitncr, 

Hpencer, 

Philadelphiu. 

LottiM-of-Marqun, 

Hiro, 

Hnltiniore. 

I'rivutoor, 

Barah  Ann, 

Moon, 

Haltimoro. 

I'rivattier, 

Huratoga, 

Cliumplinr 

New  York. 

Piivatoor, 

Saucv   .lai'k, 

(/hazel, 

('harleston. 

I'rivatoer, 

Sparrow, 

Hurcli, 

Ualtiinore. 

Privatoor, 

Hliadow, 

Taylor, 

IMiiladolphia. 

J'rivatnor, 

Swallow, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Hpy. 

New  Orloana 

Prlvatc.or, 

Snap  Dragon, 

Newborn. 

fiOtter-or-Marquc, 

Sal)ine, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Swif'tfluro, 

Privatoor, 

Surj)riHe, 

Barnes, 

Baltimore. 

Privatoor, 

Surprise, 

Salem. 

Privatoor, 

Scourge, 

Nieoll, 

New  York. 

I'rivatcor, 

Shark, 

New  York 

TVivatoer, 

Syren, 

Baltimore. 

]»rivatoer. 

Scorpion, 

OHborn, 

Salem, 

liOttor-of'-Marqiio, 

Sphynx, 

Boston. 

iiOtter-of-Murquo, 

Sine-([ua-non, 

Pond, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

8ine-(iua-non, 

Luce,             • 

Boston. 

Privatoor, 

Saranac, 

Baltimore. 

I'rivatoer, 

Seience, 

Fornald, 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer, 

Spit  Fire, 

Miller, 

New  York. 

IVivateor, 

Scjuando, 

W.  Watson,   ■ 

Portsmouth. 

Privateer, 

Teazer, 

Dobson, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Tom, 

Wilson, 

Baltimore. 

Privateer, 

Turn-over, 

SoMtbniend, 

New  York. 

Privatoor, 

Traslior, 

Salem. 

liOtter-of-M  arq  no. 

Transit, 

Richardson, 

Baltimore. 

i'rivateer. 

Two  BrotlierH 

Now  Orleans 

Privateer, 

Thorn, 

Hooper, 

Marblehead. 

Privateer, 

Thomas, 

Shaw, 

Portsmouth. 

I'rivateer, 

Tartar, 

King, 

New  York. 

Privateer, 

Tnio  blooded 

^  Hailev  &  Oxnaid. 

Yankee, 

) 

TlIK    AMIllilCAX    I'lnVATKKIlS. 


421 


nrnnniinitliM. 

Piivatoer, 

IVivat(!«r, 

L<'ttor-of-M«r(|U(', 

rrivntcor, 

IMvateor, 

l'rivivto(!r, 

IVivatcer, 

PrivftttuT, 

I'rivatoo  •, 

I,offcr-i>r-iMui'<|ue, 

Li'tt('r-ot'-l\l.'iri|m', 

l*rivulc'<'r, 

l'jiv(it(Mir, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Lettcr-()r-Man|u<>, 

IVivate.er, 

Privatcor, 

Privateer, 

I'rivatecr, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privjitccr 

Privateer, 

Privateer, 

Privateer. 


Vniiirn  OnmrHAnileri 

Te.rrilile, 

Timothy  Pickering, 

'riickalidO. 

Tonmliawk,        Mefloin, 

Two   KrieiulH, 

IJriitM  \vt)Htaii(l  Story, 

Unioii,  ILcks, 

Viper, 

Voluiitt'er, 

Viper,  Dlthurliidot 

Volant,  Perl(*y, 

Wily  Itoynard,  UiggH, 

WaHp, 

Wasp, 

WaHp, 

Water  Witcli, 

Water  Witch, 

Whig, 

Warrior, 

Xebec  IJItor, 

Yankee, 

Young  Kaglo, 

Y'orktown, 

Young  Tcazer,  Dobson, 

Young  Wiisp, 

York,  Staples, 

Yankee  Lass,    Churchill, 


Taylor, 
Erving, 


Chainplin, 
Wilson  &  Sniitl 
Story, 


Wlicri'  Ilrlonftaf. 
Halem. 

Salem. 
Halfimon". 

'BarnHtaljIe. 
New  York. 
N(nv  York. 
Salem. 
New  York. 
New  York, 
ItoKton. 
Itoston. 
Philadelphia. 
Paltimi)ro. 
Salem. 
New  York. 
Bristol. 
Baltimore. 
New  York. 
Baltimore. 
,    Bristol. 
New  Y'"ork. 
New  York. 
Now  York. 
Philadelphia. 
Baltimore. 


422 


TIIK    AMERICAN    PRIVATEERS. 


The  whole  number  of  privateers  and  private-armed 
ships  that  were  commissioned  as  cruising  vessels, 
and  all  others  actively  engaged  in  commerce  during  our 
war  with  Great  Britain,  in  the  years  1812,  1813  ai.J* 
1814,  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  sail.  They  be- 
longed to  the  different  pons  in  the  United  States,  as 
follows : 

From  Baltimore,       ...  58 

*'     New  York,  .  .  .55 

"     Salem,  .  .  .  40 

"     Boston,     .  .  .  .31 

The  True-Blooded  Yankee  was  owned  in 
Boston,  but  fitted  out  of  France,  1 


From  Philadelphia,  .  .  .  14 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  .  .11 

Charleston,     .  ,  ,  10 

Marblehead,         .  ♦  .4 

Bristol,  R.  I.,    .  .  ,  4 

Portland,  .  ,  .3 

Newburyport,  ,  .  2 

Norfolk,   .  .  .  .         2 

Newbern,  N.  C,  .  .  2 

New  Orleans,       .  .  .2 

New  London, 
Newport,  R.  I.,     . 
Providence,  R.  I., 
Barnstable,  Mass.,    . 
Fair  Haven,  Mass., 
Gloucester,  Mass., 
Washington  City, 
Wilmington,  N.  C, 

From  places  not  designated,  probably  small 
vessels  belonging  to  eastern  ports,    . 


(( 


(< 


<( 


(( 


u 


n 


a 


u 


(( 


(.( 


II 


ti 


Total. 


250 


NOTES  AND  EXPLANATIONS. 


0  H  A  P  T  E  R   I. 

This  chapter  principally  treats  of  the  preparations 
ibr  the  war  ;  the  fitting  out  of  small  privateers,  the  em- 
bargo, etc.,  with  a  full  account  of  the  United  States 
frigate  Constitution,  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  his  being  chased 
for  three  days  by  an  English  fleet,  and  finally  making 
his  escape,  and  his  safe  arrival  at  Boston  ;  also,  his 
cruise,  and  capture  of  his  Majesty's  frigate  Guerriore, 
on  the  19th  of  August,  1812.  The  Privateer  brigAna- 
coijda,  named  in  this  chapter,  was  a  beautiful  vessel,  she 
was  built  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  owned  in 
New  York.     She  carried  sixteen  carriage  guns,  and  one 

hundred  and  sixty  men.     She  was  commanded  by 

Shaler,  and  muie  a  great  many  valuable  prizes,  but  was 
finally  captured  by  a  large  number  of  British  boats, 
while  at  anchor  at  Ocracock,  N.  C. 


OTTAPTEU    II 


The  famous  Commodore  Barney,  after  his  first  suc- 
cessful cruise  in  the  privateer-schooner  Ilossie,  of  Balti- 
more, arrived  at  Newport,  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1812.     See  Index. 

(423) 


A2{ 


THK    A.Mi;;;l(AN    IMUVATEERS. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Battle  between  the  Iliiitcd  States  frigate  United  States 
and  the  British  frigate  Macedonian.     See  Index. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  i)rivatcer-.schooner  (leuoral  Armstrong,  belonged 
to  New  York,  and  was  a  formidable  vessel.  She  made  a 
great  msny  prizes,  was  ccmmanded  by  Captain  Guy  U. 
Champlin,  who  had  a  severe  battle  with  a  ]>ritish  frigate 
off  Surinam  river,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1813,  and  after 
receiving  much  damage,  made  her  escape.  This  vessel 
was  subsequently  commanded  by  Captain  Samuel  C.  Reid, 
who  made  an  unparalleled  defence  against  the  English, 
in  the  harbor  of  Fayal,  where  she  wa«  finally  destroyed 
by  British  men-of-war,  in  a  neutral  port,  on  the  27th 
of  October,  1814. 


CHAPTER    V. 

The  beautiful  privateer-schooner  Governor  Tompkins, 
belonged  to  New  York,  and  was  a  very  formidable  ves- 
sel. On  her  first  cruise,  she  was  commanded  by  Joseph 
Skinner,  of  New  London,  and  made  many  prizes.     She 

subsequently  sailed  under  the  command  of Shaler. 

She  suffered  severely  from  the  shot  of  a  British  frigate, 
but  finally  made  her  escape. 

The  famous  brig  privateer  True-Blooded-Yankee, 
carrying  18  guns,  and  160  men,  was  owned  by  an  Amer- 
ican gentleman  residing  in  Paris,  by  the  name  of  Preble. 
She  was  first  commanded  bv Hailev,  and  subse- 


THE    AMERICAN    PHI VATEERS. 


425 


qiiently  by Oxiiard.     Slie  had  an   Auioriciin  com- 

inission,  and  sailed  under  the  American  Hag,  l)ut  always 
fitted,  and  sailed  out  of  French  ports,  viz.,  Brest,  I'Ori- 
ent,  and  Morlaix. 

This  vessel  was  very  successful.  She  cruised  the 
j^rcatest  part  of  the  war  in  the  British  and  Irish  Chan- 
nels and  made  a  large  number  of  rich  prizes.  These 
she  generally  sent  into  French  ports  ;  sometimes,  how- 
ever, she  sent  a  few  to  the  United  States. 

The  privateer-schooner  Saratoga,  spoken  of  in  this 
chapter,  belonged   to   New  York.     She  was  a  powerful 

vessel.     On  her  first  cruise  she  was  commanded  by 

jlicker,  who  made  some  prizes.  On  her  second  cruise 
slie  was  commanded  by  Charles  W.  Wooster,  who  cap- 
tured the  British  letter-of-marque  brig  Rachel,  after  a 
well-fought  battle. 

Tier  third  commander  was  the  celebrated  Guy  R. 
ChampHn,  who  made  a  great  many  very  valuable  prizes. 
Though  this  vessel  had  several  battles  with  the  enemy, 
she  ran  all  the  war  without  being  captured. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


The  well  known  privateer  Decatur,  of  Charleston, 
figures  conspicuously  in  this  chapter. 

The  schooner  David  Porter,  also  here  spoken  of,  un- 
der the  command  of  George  Coggeshall,  was  a  letter-of- 
marque,  and  belonged  to  Ne\v  York.  She  made  a  suc- 
cessful cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  was  subsequently 
sold  in  Boston,  from  which  port  she  sailed  as  a  privateer, 

and  made  several  cruises  under  the  command  of 

Fish. 


426 


TUE   AMERICAN   PRiVATEERS. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

The  well  known  and  gallant  Captain  David  MaiTct,  of 
Philadelphia,  spoken  of  in  this  chapter,  first  commanded 
the  privateer-schooner  Atlas,  and  made  many  captures. 
He  subsequently  commanded  the  Rattlesnake,  and  made 
a  great  many  prizes.  He  vanquished  the  enemy  in  se- 
veral hard-fought  battles. 

The  little  ►^auc}-  Jack,  of  Charleston,  also  mentioned 
in  this  chapter,  figured  conspicuously  throughout 
the  war. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


Cruise  and  capture  of  the  Leo.     See  Index. 


CHAPTER   IX, 

The  privateer  Portsmouth,  of  Portsmouth,  was  a  con- 
spicuous cruising  vessel.  She  was  commanded  by  John 
Sinclair,  and  made  a  great  many  valuable  prizes.  His 
widow,  a  very  respectable  lady  is  still  living,  and  resides 
in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

The  celebrated  privateer-brig  Yankee,  also  alluded  to 
in  this  chapter,  was  owned  by  James  De  Wolf,  Esq.,  of 
Bristol,  R.  I.     In   several  of  her  first  cruises,  she  was 

commanded  by Wilson,  and  subsequently  by 

Smith.  She  was  a  most  fortunate  vessel,  and  made  a 
great  many  captures.  She  took  the  Royal  Bounty,  a 
British  letter-of-marque-ship,  after  a  severe  engagement. 
She  ran  all  the  war,  and  was  never  captured. 

The  privateer-schooner  Jack's  Favorite,  belonged  to 


TIIK    AMKUICAN    rUlVATKKKS. 


427 


)iivid  MafTet,  of 
irst  commanded 
many  captures, 
iiakc,  and  made 
0  enemy  in  se- 

also  mentioned 
ily    throughout 


ndex. 


New  York.     On  several  of  her  first  cruises,  she   was 

commanded  by Johnson,  and  made  several  prizes. 

She  was  subsequently  commanded  by Miller, 


CHAPTER   X. 

The  privateer-ship  America,  alluded  to  in  this  chap- 
ter, was  a  well-armed  and  well-manned  vessel.  8hc  was 
very  conspicuous  and  very  fortunate  during  the  whole 
war.  She  belonged  to  Salem,  and  was  commanded  by 
I.  W.  Chever.  Perhaps  this  vessel  made  more  money 
for  her  owners,  captain,  officers  and  crew,  than  any  other 
privateer,  cruising  out  of  the  United  States. 

The  heroic  Captain  Boyle  commanded  two  privateers 
during  the  war,  viz.,  the  Comet,  and  afterwards  the 
Chasseur.  She  captured  a  great  many  prizes,  and  van- 
quished the  enemy  in  several  hard-fought  battles.  Sec 
Index. 


uth,  was  a  con- 
andedby  John 
)le  prizes.  His 
ng,  and  resides 

also  alluded  to 
Wolf,  Esq.,  of 
ruises,  she  was 

uently  by 

1,  and  made  a 

oyal  Bounty,  a 

re  engagement, 

red. 

e,  belonged  to 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Captain   Reid's   famous   defence   of  the   privateer- 
schooner  General  Armstrong,  at  Fayal. 

During  the  several  years  of  the  war,  the  number  of 
privateers  and  letters-of-marque  belonging  to  New  York, 
amounted  to  55.  Of  all  the  captains  who  commanded 
these  vessels,  but  two  are  living  at  the  present  time, 
— Captain  Reid,  and  the  author  of  these  pages. 


INDEX. 


At-iion  between  the  Atlas  and  two  UritiKh  Ships, 

AditiDu,  IJritish  IJrip,  taken  by  the  Constitution,          ...  2! 

A(!ii  iral  Warren's  Blockade  of  Aniiiiciin  J'ortH,  I'eumrks  on,     .            .  7() 

Allen,  Henry,  Seeond  Lieutenant  of  the  lico,  Kxtriut  of  Letter  from,  291 

Amelia,  rrivatcer.  Cruise  and  Success  of,             ....  '.Urt 
\  Memorial  from  the  JlerchiintH  of  New  York  to  tlie  ('(iii;,'ress  of  the  United 

States, .  .        W)-!»r> 

Annedotn  Illustrating  the  Spirit  of  tlie 'I'inu's,  I'.IM 

Anne,  Britisii  Scliooner,  broui^ht  into  'J'honiastuwn,  t)y  Atinrkiin  Prirutccra,  M'M 

Ann  Dorothea,  British  Ship,  sent  into  Boriton  liv  the  Snratofra,     .            .  'Ml 

Anxiety  of  the  People  of  tiie  United  States  for  the  Fato  of  the  Constitution,  *J4 

Argus  captures  British  Ship  Jjondfju  I'ucket,         ....  14!) 

Arrow,  Privateer,  Loss  of,         .....            .  tVil 

Atlantic  Ports,  Prizes  daily  arriving  at      .            .            .                        .  iW 


M;,ttlc  between  the  United  States  Frigate  United  States  and  the  British  Frigate 

Macedonian,         .......        72-7.') 

Battle  between  the  Privateer  Nonsuch  and  an  English  Ship,  ofl" Martinique,   87-88 
Biittle  between  the  Surprise  and  Star,  .  ...  o'2(') 

Battle  with  and  defeat  of  the  Guerriero,  ....  *2G-'.{0 

Battle  between  the  United  Stutos  Frii^ato  President  and  a  British  Fleet,  ;540 

Baltimore,  Patriotism  of  City  of     ......  BiO 

Barney,  Commodore,  returns  to  Baltimore,      ....  84 

Bay  of  Biscay,  Terrible  Galo  in  .....  182 

Benjamin  Franklin,  Privateer,  takes  Schooner  Industry,         .  .  (30 

Biddle,  of  the  Hornet,  enj-tnges  and  defeats  the  Penguin,  .  .  'X\2 

Blockade,  Privateer,  sails  from  Newport  in  company  with  Privateer  Yankee,      144 
Boyd,  Englisli  Ship,  taken  by  the  Globe,    .....  oil 

Beyle,  Captain  of  Privateer  CliasKOur,  erui.<e;i  on  Coast  of  Brazil,  &c.,  Ac.,       1^>- 
Intercepts  three  British  vessels  under  Portuguese  protection.     Gallant 
encounter,  and  complete  victory,        ....  1152 

in  the  Chasseur,        ......  1 1?!' 

Cniise  in  Schooner  Comet,        .  .  .  .  .  .       lOfi 

Heroic  and  gallant  conduct  and  achievements  of,  .  .  ;5r>8 

List  of  Prizes  taken  by,  .....  1558 

Letter  of,  to  one  of  the  Owners,     ....  1^62 

Battle  with  and  Capture  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  .  .  3G3 

(429) 


^ 


430 


INDEX. 


FAOB 

Boyle,  Captuiti,  of  tho  ChuHwmr,  IJurloHquo  liluekiulo  of  ull  Knglinh  ports  by  'Ml 

Ccrtilic.itf  to,  fnitii  ("iijitiiiii  of  tlu!  Ht.  l.nwn'iK.'i',        .            .  IWfl 

Arrival  of,  nt  Maltiiiioro,       ......  ^66 

Aiitlior'H  opinion  of  .....  'MH,  3(i9 

Hruvi'  I  )(fiiitM' of  till' H('li(ion(>r  Lottery,     .....  128 

IJritiHli  Siiip  Iiuiostry  Kent  into  Hcruf'n,  Norwiiy,  liy  tlii'  Triio-bloodcrl  Yankee,  149 

J<ritisli  OdicerH  at  (iibriiitiir  refiiHo  to  piirolo  Ciipt.  C«>(fj,'(nluiil  iitiil  Ofliccrs,  'iGT) 
Hritiwh  Nliip  of  22  >;nnM  drivt-n  on  niiore  neiir  Deinnrarn  by  tbo  General  Arin- 

Htronj{,        ........  98 

Itriti.MJi  Hliip  Lontlon  I'lurket  eaptnrcd  by  tlie  ArgiiH,  tmJ  sent  into  ])o8ton,  141) 

Uritihli  rii'et  eluiHcs  ConKtitntion,                .....  7 

Uritisli  Siiip  cMptnrcil  iintl  Kent  into  Nctrfolk,   ....  37 

Kritisb  tniiiKport  Hri^  cfiptnred,     ......  38 

Uritifib  .Sliip  Nin  id,  captun  <1  olf  Madeira  by  tlu!  (}ov«'riior  Tompkins,  1G4 

KritiKh  Siiip  Mor^iaii.'i,  captured  by  Monnliiifi^  by  the  Karntogu,    .            .  150 

Itritiwh  I'oliey  of  takini^  New  OrleaiiH,             ....  144 

HritiKli  (iovernnient  [tetitioned  by  LiviTpool  Merchant.'*,  with  rcHpect  to  Am- 
erican I'rivateerK,              ......  303 

lirlff  Ann,  a  Prize  to  tiie  Sniip-l)ra)i»(ti,          ...            -  107 
BnitUH,  Letter-of-Manjue,  captnrei<  Unu,  Ta<;iiB,  from  Smyrna,  and  ship  Albion, 

from  London,                          .....  386 


Capture  of  a  llritiBh  Traunport  IM^i,  sent  into  OloiiecBter,  .  .  3b 

Capture  of  the  Packet  Sliip  I'liziibetb  al'ter  a  chort  Battle,  by  the  Letter-of- 

Marqiie,  Jacob  .Foiick,  of  BoKton,  ....  356 

Candine,  Privateer  Scbooner,  captureB  Bri^,'  Stephen,  .  .  317 

Caledonia,  British  Ship,  taken  liy  Surprise,  ....  294 

Chase  and  escape  of  Constitution,         .....  8-19 

('hamplin,  Captain  of  I'rivateer  (ieneral  Arni.strong,  compliment  to,        .  107 

Champlin,  Captain,  of  the  Warrior  I'rivateer,  chased  by  British  Frigate,  328 

Chasseur,  Privateer,  captures  British  Ship  Mary  and  Susan,  and  Ship  Adven- 
ture, ........  350 

Coggbshall,  George,  Commander  of  Letter-of-Marque,  Schooner  David  Porter, 
sails  to  Charleston  from  Newport,  having  loaded  at  Providence, 

Chased  ofT  Charleston,    .... 

Arrives  at  that  Port,  .... 

Sails  fiom  Newport,        .... 

Sails  from  Charleston  for  Franco,    .  .  . 

Arrives  at  La  Teste,       .... 

Hurries  away  from  La  Teste, 

Short  cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay, 

Makes  several  Captures,      .... 

Arrives  at  L'lle  Dieu,     .... 

Letter  of,  to  Captain  Mantor,  formerly  of  Brig  Ida, 

Letter  of,  to  owners,       .... 

To  A.  Gracie  &.  Sons,  .... 

To  his  Brother,    ..... 

Prepares  and  fits  out  the  Leo  at  L'Orient,  . 

Proceeds  to  the  Engliijh  Channel, 


Providence, 

178 

178 

179 

178 

180 

183 

186 

190 

191 

193 

201 

210 

•          ■ 

212 

•         • 

217 

,          , 

254 

255 

INDEX. 


481 


rkon 

igliHh  p«»rt8  by 

-J6I 

. 

366 

'MS, 

3i3» 

. 

128 

blooded  Yankpts 

149 

iitid  OfliccrH, 

•iGT) 

10  ticiKTttl  Ann- 

, 

9M 

iuto  UdstoD, 

141) 

,            , 

7 

, 

37 

, 

38 

oinpkiiiB, 

u,    . 

164 
150 

144 

I  respect  to  Ani- 

303 

. 

107 

niid  Hhip  Albion 

• 

386 

38 

by  the  Letter-of 

356 

817 

. 

294 

, 

8-19 

>nt  to, 

107 

ih  Frigate, 

328 

and  Ship  Adven 

350 

er  David  Porter 

» 

i*rovidencc, 

178 

, 

178 

•            • 

179 

178 

•            • 

180 

183 

•            • 

186 

. 

190 

. 

191 

. 

193 

201 

. 

210 

. 

212 

• 

217 

254 

'ifiT* 

PAUB 

DiHiinnodby  order  of  the  FruiK-hOoveniiiKMit,       .            ,            .  2ri5 

Siiiin  IVtmi  l/Orit'tit,  cniituicM  srvcriil  I'li/.iv,    ,                          .  )i'ut 
Coin|)('lli(l  to  leave  the  ('liiiiiiiel  mid  Hteer  to  (he  notithward,  ou  account 

of  hi'iiiK  liiidiy  ariiieil,  and  very  deficient  in  hiiIIh  and  riKKi»Ki  '-^'*^> 

Dixiniii'tt'il  wiiile  in  clla^c  of  a  ItritiKli  ra(  kit,       .            ,            .  201 

Arrivtd  otf  Li«bon,           ......  2(52 

Taken  liy  the  CtranicuH,  FriKUte,  and  tnwxl  n mid  t<)(jil)raltttr,     .  202 

( 'oineiviition  and  liitercoiirNi^  witii  ('(ipliiiii  iif  tiranit-UH,            .  20;{-7 

l''.xniniiintion  at  the  Adniinilty  oHicc  at  (iibraliiir,               .            .  2(i7 

KHcajie  fi'inii  the  (iarrition,           .....  209 

OocN  on  lioard  a  N'lii'wef^iiin  (ialliot,              .             .             -             .  27(1 

TakcH  iiaKsa^e  to  Alueclrart  with  a  (<;iiii;'  of  Sniii;,';rlerH,             .  '^72 

KesidcH  with  the  Family  of  tiie  Captain  of  tlie  Oanj,',          ,            .  274 

J^eavcH  AlfjeeiniH,  ill  l)ls>;niKe,  for  Cadiz,                          .             ,  279 

KeninvkK  on  that  Ue^ion  of  Country,           ....  279 

ArriveHat  Cadi/,             ......  284 

Kind  Ueceplion  at  lliiit  J 'lace  b\  hln  old  Friend.-*  and  Countrymen,  284 

ReKideiice  at  Cadiz — 'riicatres  !iiid  Hull  I'inhtH,              .             .  2H5 

SailH  fioin  Cadiz  for  LiKhon,  in  a  I'oi tiimieHe  VesKel,          .            .  288 

I'npleaHant  l'a^^^•an(»  litiine  toNew  VoiK,            .            ,            .  290 

C'onKtitutidu,  American  Shiji,  Captain  1  lull,  ell'  New  ^'ork,          .            .  7 

Constitution  chased  by  a  Uritinh  Fleet,             ....  7 

Constitution,  Ship,  Anxiety  for  the  I'ate  of,            ....  24 

CoiiKtitntion  iiie.'tH  the  Ueeatiir,            .....  23 

Constitution  dcKtroya  an  F,n^;li^ll  I? rifj,        .....  21 

Meets  the  (Juerriei-c  and  nains  a  Coniplere  Victory,      .             .  28-31 
Civilization  and  humanity  of  liiiffli.-^h   and  Auieiicuis  compared,  in  their  re- 

fpoctive  treatment  of  prisonerH,          ....  341-343 

Comet,  Privateer,  captures  Uritinh  Ship  .lolin,       ....  78 

Comet,  Privateer,  eaptiircH  and  dintro} k Nine  ^'eKt!els,            .            .  ItiO 
Combat  betw<'en  the  Letter-of-Afarque  Sehoom-r  I'aleon  and  the  British  Cutter 

Hero,               .......  37 

Commence  with  Small  Privateers,              .....  2 

Comparative  Naval  forces  in  the  War,              ....  394 

Countess  of  Harcourt,  British  Ship,  eai»tured  by  the  Sabine,        .  246 
Coup  do  JIaiii  of  four  American  Seamen,  on  hoard  British  Schoouor  Anne,        297 

C<  up  de  Maui  of  a  Fishing  Smack,             .....  122 

Cruise  of  the  Privateer  Schooner  Fame  «if  Salem,       ...  38 

Cruise  of  the  I'rivateer  Perry,  (d"  Baltimore,        ....  236 

CiuiRcsof  the  Scour{;eand  Kattlesuake,           ....  219 

Cruelty  of  the  F.nglish  in  tiio  War  on  Land,         ....  390 

* 

Utvid  Porter,  Lellor-of-JIanjue,  Commander  Coggeshall's  Voyage  to  France 

in IT7 

Loses  First  Prize,     .            .            .            .            .            .            .  181 

Chased  by  a  Frigate,        ......  1 89 

Makes  Several  Captures,      .-,...  lOO-lM 

Arrives  at  Boston  with  rich  Spoils,       ....  308 

Captures  the  Brig  lliraui,    .            .                       ...  3tJa 


4:yi 


i\i)i:x. 


P.VdH 

Dftviii  I'ortor  ciiptun'N  Scln«itn'r  (ifoiK*',        ....  ;iy7 

Diu-rcK,  Captain  of  II.  II.  M.  KriKitti^liiKtrrioro,  Chullfii^iMir,      .  .  liH 

Acfiiiitit  of  .......  lU 

Dvcatur,  l'rivat(!*'r  Heliooiirr,  1))  HptMuti*  l'iiiKiiK">iii!»t  ul',  with  Schooiit'r  |)ii- 

mlnii;:!,  .......  I7!l-J7(5 

Siiiln  on  Vvi'h\\  CniiHc,  ......  177 

I)i'(initi( r  Wiir,         .......  :UM 

l)»!S|)i'nit(i  Hiittli'  I'oiiKlit  lH't\M'cii  till' Aiiirrii'iiii  IMmiI.  ci-Scluioiicr  Dfcutur, 

of  Cliiirli'Hfoii,  ('ii|ilaiii  |)ii'oii,  iiikI  IIIn  Itriutniiic  MiijfHt.v'H  Si-liooiirr 

Doiniiiica,  on  tlit'.MIi  .\iiKUKt,  l-<JH,  ....  I7a-i7(i 
DoHpumto  IJiiltli'  liftwtcn  llu-   rrivuti  it  (Jciiciul  .Vr.iislii.n;;,  (.'iipfiiin  Cliain- 

plin,  (111(1  H  HiitiHli  Fii(;itlf,  .....      Il)r)-l(i7 

DcHpiMiito  Kn<,'iij,'rin('nt  Itt'twi'i'ti  the  I'rivntct'iMilobc,  I'.'iplnln  Uiclmnl  .Moim, 

1111*1  two  iMi^jlihh  IJiinH,  o(V  Miidi  iiM,       ....  Jii> 

DfHpcriitc  IJatllf  lictwtcn  tlic  Xcnfcliiitrl,  I'lnutcrr,  aii'l  ll;i'  i'natHof  a  Hiitisii 

Man-of-War,  oil  Ni.ntiiiK.t,  .....  VII-'JU 
Ulnpfiiily  of  Naval  l'\)rcr.s  of  i;n>,'liiiul  ni.d  lli>'  I'lilti'd  StiittM,  .  .'!o 

Doniiiiica,  niitiKJi  Kcliooncr,  i;iit!ii;;('x  tlic  l>r<iit!ir,  .  .  .  17:i 

Dolphin,  I'rivatcrr,  (Jaliant  Action  of,  with  HiimIIwIi  Siiipami  Hrip,  l'2H 

Sends  llritiHh  Hliip. John  ilaiiiiiton  into  llaltiuioi'c,  .  .  !)(i 

Droiifht'lm,  in  Norway,  ......  '2'S.l 

Kliza(ir,icii!  and  OronoJvo  ciipturcil,           .....  0 

Knih;;i';;-(i  hy  till'  United  StatiH  (iiivcniiiiiMit,      .                         .             .  .'i 

Kii!,'liKli  I'rcKH  oil  the  War,             .             .            .            .            .            .  41 

K.xplosion  of  a  I'rivatcer,          ......  Iti.^ 

Kxtract  troin  the  Loj,'-l)ook  of  the  Atlas,  ("iiptain  Mafl'et,  and  hia  Account  of 

an  Action  with  two  llritiKli  SliipK,  which  he  CaptiircH,               .  7!) 

Extract  from  a  Baltimore  I'aper,          .....  41 

Kxtract  from  Lof;-liook  of  Schooner  IIi^;liflyer,    ....  5IJ 

Extract  from  the  rir)}:f-liook  of  th"  Shmlow,     ....  (lii 

Extract  from  liO^-lxxdi  of  I'rivatcer  Schooner,  Comet,    .              .            .  i,l:i 
Extract  from  a  Charleston  piiiicr  wiili  rctipi ct  to  the  Iobb  of  the  Privuteer 

Ino,            ........  ;M8 

Extract  from  Lojj-bocdi  of  I'rivatcer  Schooner  Kossie,            .             .  84 

Extract  from  Salem  paper,              ......  ull 

Extract  from  Log-hook  of  (Jlolie,  Privateer,   ....  ;{;") 

Extinct  from  a  Ltmdon  Newspajier,           .....  41 

Eulojfy  on  Captain  John  Mnrphy,        .....  157 


I'alci  II,  Lotter-of-Marf(U<'  Schooner,  and  UritiKli  Cutter  Hero,  Combat  be- 
tween             .......  U7 

I'ilhcii  IJiitish  VosBels  captured  oil"  .Jamaica,  by  the  LoToly  Cordelia,  of 

Charleston,            .......  151 

First  Hritish  Ship  captured  and  sent  into  Norfolk,       ...  37 

Fleet  Sailing,          ........  109 

Fiyiii;r  Fish,  Hritirli  St  I.c.imt,  tnken  liy  the  Saucy  .Tack,       .            .  14G 

Four  Privateers  leav<'  tl<'  Ciipes  of  the  Delaware  on  the  20th  of  July,    .  38 

Frigates,  List  of,  fit  for  S;!i,      ......  36 


INDICX. 


\X\ 


rAOR 

, 

:W7 

•                    • 

so 

Ih  Hchiioncr 

Do- 

. 

r:i- 

-i7<; 

,            , 

177 

• 

:tU4 

■ImoiuT  Di'ci 

itur, 

ijchty'K  Srlitioiicr 

.             • 

I7;i- 

-i;tj 

,,  Ciiittniii  CI 

.(llll- 

• 

11),',- 

-1(7 

II  Uiclianl  M 

Odll, 

Jill 

'•rntHlll'  u  lliitixli 

• 

>/ll- 

-v'M 

, 

:io 

•                        • 

J7:» 

nrifr, 

90 

•                    • 

9 

r. 

• 

41 

id  hit)  Account  ot 

H, 

7!) 
41 

r.:i 

68 

(                                     • 

i:5j 

[)f  the  PrivututT 

, 

:m8 

, 

84 

,                       , 

51) 

• 

35 
41 

157 

(TO,  Combat 

be- 

'J7 

tIv  Cordelia,  of 

, 

151 

, 

37 

• 

109 
14G 

of  July,    . 

38 

36 

General  WcHphIi'j-,  MrltiHli  .Ship,  ciiptuivd  hy  tho  Vmikfc,  but  lout  wiiilo  ciitor- 

iuK  ('liiirU'Htoii,      .......  319 

Qcnernl  AiiiiMtroiiK.  I'rivatccr,  clmMCH  ItritlNli  Ship  on  Hhorn  near  Dcnii'iuiii,     !H 

CapturcH  HritiNh  Ship  (jiu'cu,           .....  99 

FixhtN  with  llritiHh  l''ri(,'uto,      .....  linVKt? 

Cruinii  hikI  capture  of          .....            .  :(7f) 

(JeruMnl  ruU'H  in  I'rivati'crinp,              .....  Ill-Pi 

Olciidowcr,  nrltihli  Frixato,  captun'H  tho  Ilydcr  Ali,                     .            .  Ur)7 

(ijohc,  I'livatcrr,  ciinagcH  an  Alfjeriiic  Slnon  of  War,            .            .  lOU 

(flohc,  I'rivatccr,  cnKnu^Mucnt  of,  with  two  Kn^lisli  MrigH,           .  IflO 
(lood  clfi'i'tH  of  the  War  on  Coniincrco  and  dicncral  UcJationH  with  other 

NntiiinH,     ........  WW 

(Jottcnburfj,  Pilot  boat  diHpatch«»d  to               ....  8 

(■ovcrnor  Tompkins  caplnn.'H  ISritiNh  Siiip  Ncri'ld,           .             .            .  164 

(iovfrnorTonipkiiiH  «'.Mca|i('rt  from  a  Uritisii  rrif,'utt',                .            .  Ml)-3 

OninipuH,  Privateer,  arrives  at  Now  York,             ....  I.'i7 

(iniinpUH,  Narrow  Escape  of,  at  Canary  I.sIiuuIh,          .            .            .  167 

(iniiid  Turk,  Privateer,  arrives  at  Salem  with  Spoils  and  Prinoners,  308 

GranicuH,  Hritinh  Frigate,  captures  tho  Leo,         ....  363 

Uucrriere,  DcBtruction  of         .....             .  31 

llari)y.  Privateer,  Sucwssful  CruiBC  of     .             .            .             .            .  3(H> 

'  Valuable  PrizcH  of        .             .....  321,3-22 

llibcrnia,  MritiHli  Ship,  Kn>{!ij{ed  by  tlio  Couict     .             .             .             ■  160 

Hijriiflyer,  EiigapcR  and  captnrcH  Ship  Mary  and  Anne,  and  otiier  jJvizoH,  i^l 

llopcH  of  Peace  disappointed,          ......  1 

Hornet,  U.  S.  Ship,  Knua^eH  Sloop  Penguin,  and  gains  a  complete  victory,       3.'W 

How  Privateers  manage  to  take  Merchant  VesseU  out  of  a  Fh'ct,           .  III-IP4! 

Hubbub  and  Confusion  in  CJibraltar,  to  find  tiie  Captain  of  the  Leo,  271 

Hull,  Captain,  off  New  York  in  Constitution,        ....  7 

Sails  from  lioston,        ......  21 

Cruises  off  Nova  Scotia,       ......  21 

Meets  with  the  Ouerriere,  on  tho  19th  of  August,         .            .  27 

Battle  with  and  defeat  of  tho  Oucrriere,                  ...  28 

Honors  to,  after  his  victory,      .....  34 

Ida,  Brig,  Escapes  from  La  Rochelle,        .....  200 

Indian  Lass,  captured  by  Grand  Turk,  and  sent  into  Salem,            .  235 

Ino,  lost  off  Charleston  Bar,          ......  348 

Ino,  captures  Ship  Hero,          ......  318 

Ino,  Privateer,  captures  the  Lady  Trowbridge,     ....  348 

Interesting  Cruiso  of  the  famous  Capt.  Boyle,  on  tho  coast  of  Brazil,  and 

among  the  West  India  Islands,   .....  132 

Interesting  Cruiso  of  the  famous  Capt.  Boyle,  in  the  Schooner  Comet,  160 


Jacob  Jones,  Lctter-of-Marque,  captures  Packet  Ship  Elizabeth, 
Jacob  Jones,  captures  British  Brig  Bourwan,  from  Penaug, 
Jack's  Favorite,  chased  by  British  Schooner  Subtle, 
James,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Privateer  Portsmouth, 


356 

391 

67 

298 


28 


484 


INDKX. 


Journal  of  (,'npt.  KiiU'k  (!niitH>,     .  .  .  . 

John  Murpliy,  ('iiptitin,  I'.iildu)' on       ,  ,  , 

John,  DritiNli  Hhlp,  cuptiinMl  liy  thn  Couict,  • 

Koinp,  rriviit('<T,  ciiptiircH  Ni^vcml  DritlNh  Miirchniitiniin, 
(-'npfurcM  tlio  New  rn^lcrlck,         •  •  • 

Kind  Kfci'ption  of  ('apt.  Hull,  ill  HoHton, 


rAoii 

)r.7 
7H 

y47 

ID 


liiuly  Trowhri(lK<',  MrltlHli  IWn,  ciiptiircil  liy  tlit<  Ino,  of  Uuston,             .  ',\\H 

La  Itoclii'lli',  VIhU  of  (i(<<i.  (Ni^UcNhiill  to          ....  I'.)7 

Luwniiuu',  I'rivaffcr,  SiktchhI'iiI  CriiiHi' of            ....  3]i» 

Jx!0,  lii-{tcr-of-Miir<|iii',  (JruiNi>  of  C<i'orK<<  ('o|,'K<''>l»>ll  >»  tiio          .            .  2')-'' 

(!iiptur('H  II  viiliiuMi'  r.iiKt  Iiiiliii  Sliip,          ....  M7 

I'rcparod  luid  (Uti'd  out  lit  l/Orii'iit,      ....  2.'>t 

(Jiiptiiri'd  off  LIhIjoii,  liy  till' (ti-iiiiii'iid,         ....  '^I'lJ 

TioonidiiH,  MritJHh  MriK,  ('ii|itiin  d  liy  tlic  Mars,              .            .  4'S 

Liflbon,  HhipH  Aiiiorica,  Klixa  (iiiu'ic,  and  Onuioco,  mill  fniiii       .            .  M 

(](H).  ('O^^^'i'Hliall,  anivi'H  nlf        .....  2(!l 

rilot  taktMi  on  board  tlic  Leo,         ,            .             .             .             ,  'Jlii 
r/lKlo  DiiMi,  Uoiiiai-kK  on          ......           1!M  I!)'. 

Lint  of  tlio  I'rivati'rr  Yankcc'H  I'rizrH,     .               .             .             .  Ill 

LoBHoftlm  l»rizcH  of  th(!  rrlvatoorH  SiMiiirgH  and  IJttttk'bimko            .  U.'i 

I/mt  of  l''ri(,'at('H  lit  for  Hca,              .            .             .            .             •            .  H 

Livorpool,  MorcliaiitH  of,  petition  Jlritixh  (ioveriiiiiiiit  for  protection  from  Am- 

(^ricaii  I'rivat('(\rH,        ......  3l).t 

liondon  NcwHpapcr,  Kxtraot  from             .                                                  .  41 

London  Tackot,  IJritJBh  Shiji,  captiiifd  by  tlio  Arj{U«,             .            .  14:> 

liOKH,  Naval,  of  till!  Kii^UkIi  (luring  till' AVar,          ....  3!)l 

Jjosh,  Naval,  of  tiio  AinoricaiiH  during  tlir  War,            .             .            .  39.'* 

liOKB  of  1  lis  MajcBty'B  Scbooncr  Subtil',                ....  67 

liottisry,  Hi'hooncr,  Bravo  dcfi'iico  of    .                         .            .            .  12-i 

]iOvoly  Cordcdiu  captures  fiftfion  British  vesKidH  ofl'Jaiuuica,        .            .  l.'iJ 


McDonouKb,  Privateer,  Kxti*actn  from  Lojj-book  of    . 
Macrdonian,  I'rivatecr,  Short  but  «uceeHKl'ul  cruise  of      .  .  , 

Macedonian,  IJritish  Frigate,  fightH  with  Trigate  United  States,  of  U.  8., 
Margiu'et,  Mritish  Ship,  Capture  of,  by  Privateer  Teazer, 
Alatrct,  Captain,  captures  two  BritiHli  Ships, 
Miiguaiiiinity,  Instaneo  of     .  .  .  .     ■        . 

Mairnaniinity  of  an  American  Captain,  .... 

Mammoth,  Privateer,  makes  several  captures,       .... 
Mantor,  Captain,  of  the  Brig  Ida,  Letter  of,  to  Capt.  Coggeshall, 

Wonderful  Escape  of,  from  n  British  Fleet,  .  .  .     , 

Merchants  of  New  York  memorialize  Con^rreKS  with  respei't  to  Privateering,  8!)-l).'> 
Merchants  of  Liverpool  petition  British  Oovernnient  for  protection  from  Ameri- 
can PrlvatecTB,  ......  303 

Montgomery,  Privateer  Brig,  engages  the  Surinam,  ...  09 

Moon,  Captain,  engages  with  two  Eiigli!!li  vessels,      .  .  .  160 


351-39;) 

31 J 

72-7.') 

40 

79 

60 

329 

305-306 

202 

303, 304 


INDKX. 


4:^.5 


p*oa 

ir.7 

7rt 

217 

I!t7 

a.')'.! 

117 

2r>i 

44 

21)1 

2(12 

19.»-1».". 

114 

:«■; 
vlion  from  Aui- 

31).! 
41 

14:> 

3!)  I 
39.-. 
67 
12S 
151 

351-391) 

31J 

72-75 

40 

79 

60 

329 

305-30() 

202 

.     303, 304 

rrivatccring,  89-95 

ion  from  Ameri- 

303 

69 

160 


,  of  U.S., 


ill, 


PAIIR 

Nicull,  Captain,  <if  tho  HciiiirKi',  (!liArnrt<>r  und  coiiiliict  uf          ,            ,  'J2v) 

N(7ir<i  Kcikrncii  an  olijccl.  nf  iiiK'n  r<t  in  I'ruiii'*',                        .            .  1(15 

Nf'uro  Mcaincn,  (.'niKliict  nf,  in  tln«  War,    .....  Ii;{ 

Ni'ul'i-lmti'l    rriviitt'cr,  cnuiiMi'M  houtM  1 1' HritiNli  Man-ot'-Wnr,             .  2II-'J!1 
New  York  i'Aty,  Coiiiiiion  ('ouiuii  of,  iircKciitH  rrt'itjoiii  ol'tim  ('ity  to  ('n|itniii 

Mull,         ........  HI 

New  Yorl»,  S(  Viral  I'rlviitt'crM  Mail  from           ....  3 

2(i(i  Mcrcliaiit  vc^hmi-Ih  arrivt"  at,  biitwcni  April  iiiiJ  AuKiint,  !HI2,  HI 

Mcrchaiitri  of,  iiii'iii(iriiili/o  ('oii^rcMH  with  ri'Mpcct  to  I'rivatccriiiu,  Ht)-'),') 

Ni'w  OrlraiiK,  Itritinh  I'olicy  ill  takiiiu        ....  144 

NIcIiiiIn,  Captain  of  I'rivatcvr  Harpy,  licttor  of  ucknowli^dKmi'ut  to,  from  prln- 

oiMTH,                     .......  322-323 

NoiiKiicli,  cnfjanfH  ft  Hhip  and  Hcliooncr,            ....  H7 

NotcH  niid  l'Ix[iliiimtionH,                 ......  41)3 

Niimlicr  of  rrivatcurs  und  lA'ttm-s-of-Marqiio  at  Ria,  Kith  July,  1H12,  38 


Ollicial  Account  of  tho  Action  liotwccn  U.  8.  Ship  llonuit  ami  liiilinh  Sloop  of 


War  IViiKuin, 


332-335 


On  the  iHth  of  .Func,  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York  jireHent 

Captain  Imeu!  HiiH  wiMi  the  rreedom  of  their  City  in  u  Oohl  box,         HI 

Paris,  viKit  to,  in  IHI3,  ......  210,  213 

I'atriotiKm  of  the  City  of  Ilnltimorc,         .....  130 

I'errj',  I'rivatoer,  suecessful  Crui.Hc  of  ....  SiM 

I'elliiim,  lliitinh  Ship,  captured  liy  Saucy  Jack,     . 
Penguin,  MritiHli  Sloop,  en{;n^ed  and  con(|uered  by  the  Iloniut, 
DcHtroycd  by  Seuttlin{f,      ..... 

Perry,  Privateer  of  Baltimore,  Cruise  of         .... 

Pilot  lloftt  diHpatehed  to  (jlotteiilmrp,        .... 

Political  Divinity,         ....... 

Polly,  Privateer,  Escape  of  .  '  .  .  . 

Preparation  for  War,    ....... 

Prenident,  Frif^ate,  {'ruis«'8  oft"  the  North  Cape,    . 

PriiiccHs  Elizabeth,  Prilish  I'acket,  captured  by  the  Harpy, 

Privateerini;,  success  und  Pro(,'res8  of       . 

Privateers,  Table  of,  beloiiKin^  to  New-York, 

Privutcer.s,  Table  of,  belon{;inj{  to  Baltimore, 

Privuteers,  Table  of,  belonging  to  Salem,  .... 

Privateers  fit  out  from  the  Eastern  States,  .  .  .      ' 

Privateers  in  East  Indies,        ...... 

Priviitcers  from  llhode  Island  and  South  Carolina, 

Privateers,  Remarks  on,  Nov.  1814,    ..... 

Privateers  le.ave  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware,        .... 

Prizes  in  Month  of  July,  1812,  ..... 

Prizes  taken  during  the  month  of  August,  1812, 
Prizes  arriving  almost  daily  in  the  Atlantic  Ports, 
Prizes  captured  by  Privateers,  .  57,  GO,  63,  6H,  77,  81,89,  95,  111,  126,  146 
154,  1.58,  225,  244,  294,  304,  312,  315,  316,  323,  348 
Public  Opinion  in  1812,  ......  23-24 


332 

2:)5 

836 

2 

304 

39 

2 

221 

245 

298 

4 

5 

153 

3 

316 

« 

301-2 

38 

38 

44 

38 


in  ^! 


436 


INDEX. 


FAOa 

Quebec,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Saratoga,        ...  58 

Rambler,  liCtter-of-Marqiie,  cnpturcR  the  TninRiiort  Sliip  Mosely,      .  390 

RainbliT,  Lettcr-of-Marqne,  ciipturcs  BritiHh  Ship  Arabella,        .  .  354 

IlnttlcRniike  captures  Britifili  Ship  Mury,         ....  208 

Ucccption  of  Hull  after  (Icffiit  of  Gucrrierc,  .  .  .  34 

l{ci(l,  Ciiptain,  Cruise  of,  in  the  General  Armstrong,   .  .  .  370 

Arrives  at  Fayal,     .......  1^70 

Gallant  defence  of  the  General  Armstrong  in  Fayal  Roads,  and  great 
loss  of  the  Enemy,  ......        273-5 

Destniction  of  the  Brig,  .....  377 

Letter  of  American  Consul  conceniirif,'  Captain  Reid,  and  the  defence 

and  loss  of  the  General  Armstrong,  .  .  .  378 

Arrives  at  Savannah — Honors  paid  to  ...     383-33 1 

Remarks  on  engagement  between  United  St.nte,'?  and  Macedonian,     .  75 

Remarks  on  the  Battle  between  the  Decsitur  and  Dominica,  .  176 

Remarks  on  the  Battle  between  the  Horm^t  and  Biitish  Sloop-of-war  Penguin,  336 
Remarks  on  the  action  between  the  General  Arnistnmj;  and  a  British  Frigate.  107-!) 
Remarks  on  Admiral  Warren's  blockading  the  Aiueriean  I'orts,        ,  76 

Remarks  on  Battle  of  Constitution  and  Guerriere,  .  .        31-34 

Rhode  Island  and  South  Carornn,  Priviiteers  from      .  .  466 

Rossie,  Commodore  Barney,  takrs  and  mans,  or  de.^iroys,  several  Prizes,  84-87 
Ro.<!8ie,  Commodore  Barney,  engages  Ship  Princcbs  Amelia,   .  .  86 

Rogers,  Commodore,  Cruises  in  tlii'  President  oil"  Uie  Xorth  Capo,  .  221 

Roger,  Privateer,  captures  British  Packet,  Windiiiir  Ca.stle,  .  387 

Saratoga  captures  British  Ship  Quebec,    .....  58 

Boards  and  captures  the  Morginnn,        ....  150 

Captures  British  Ship  Ann  Dorothy,            ....  307 

Engages  and  defeats  British  Letter-ofManpie  Rachel,    .           .  70 

Saucy  Jack  makes  several  prizes,              .....  127 

Takes  Flying  Fish,           ......  146 

Takes  Ship  Amelia  r.nd  Schooner  Weasel,              .            .            .  310 

Bold  but  unsuccesfifiil  engagement  with  two  vessels  of  war,    .  310 

English  account  of  the  Engagement,           .            .            .            .  311 

S.  Clark,  British  Ship,  captured  l»y  the  Globe,             .            .           .  50 

Scourge  and  Rattlesnake,  Cruises  and  Prizes  of               ...            .  219-225 

Several  Privateers  sail  from  New  York,          ....  3 

Shadow,  Privateer,  Battle  with  British  Ship  Nancy,       .             .            .  62, 63 

Shaler,  Captain,  Escape  of,  from  a  British  Frigntr,      .            .            .  140-143 
Siege  and  Storming  of  Badajoz,  by  a  British  Army,  contrasted  with  General 

Scott's  Campaign  and  Subjugation  of  Mexico,           .            .  343-348 
Sir  John  Sherbrook,  British  Brig,  captured  by  the  Sjren  and  driven  on  shore,  304 
Sixty-five  Privateers  and  Letters-of-Marque  at  Sea  on  the  16th  of  July,  1812,     33 

Small  Privateers,  Comrience  the  War  with          ....  2 

Snap-Dragon  captures  British  Brig  Anne,        ....  127 

Sprague,  Horatio,  American  Consul,  protects  and  aid.s  Geo.  Coggeshall,  276 

Stafford  Captain,  captures  two  English  vessels,          .            .            .  128 

Gallantly  defends  the  Privateer  Dolphin,            .            ,            .  154 


INDKX. 


43' 


68 


seJy,      . 

354 

208 

34 

370 

:?70 

Roads,  and  great 

273-5 

377 
nnd  the  defence 

378 

.    383-334 

lian,     .  75 

176 
of-war  Penguin,  336 
Sritish  Frimito.  107-!) 


ts, 

Till  Prizes, 
!ape, 


76 
31-34 

466 

84-87 

86 

221 

387 


(var. 


58 
150 
307 
70 
127 
146 
310 
310 
311 
50 
.    219-22r> 
3 
62, 63 
140-143 
d  with  General 

343-348 

riven  on  shore,  304 

of  July,  1812,     3-^ 

2 

127 

iggeshall,  276 

128 

154 


Stafford,  Captain  of  Privateer  Doly.>>5",  Character  of 
State  of  Affairs  in  France,  Unsettled 
Surprise,  Privateer,  Succssful  eruiBe  of    . 

List  of  Prizes  made  by  .  .  . 

Captures  East  India  Ship  Star, 
Synnnetry,  British  Ship,  captured  by  the  Scourge, 
Syren,  Privateer,  liOsa  of  .  .  . 


PAns 
130 
183-185 
294 
294 
326 
S83 
307 


Table  of  Privateers  bcloni^ng  to  Baltimore,  ....  58 

Table  of  Privateers  belonging  to  New  York,  ...  4 

Table  of  Privateers  belonging  to  Salem,    .  .  .  .  .  153 

Terrible  Gale  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,      .....  182 

The  Privateer  Sabine,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British  Ship  Countess  of 

Harcourt,       .......  246 

The  Privateer  Harpy,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British   Packet  Princess 

Elizabeth, 245 

The  Grand  Turk  captures  the  Indian  I.,aKR,  and  kctkIs  lur  to  Salem,        .  235 

The  Privateers  Yankee  and  Blockade  sail  fioiii  Ncwjiort  on  the  1st  »>f  June, 

1813, 144 

The  Privateer  Caroline,  of  Baltimore,  captures  the  British  Mriy;  Elizabeth,  and 

sends  her  to  Charleston,  .....  245 

The  Privateer  Portsmouth  captures  the  Ship  Jamts, ot  London,        .  298 

The  Saucy  Jack  captures  the  Ship  Pelliam,  and  takes   her  into   Charles- 
ton,   ......  •  233 

Treaty  of  Peace,     ........    401-414 

True-bloo    d  Yankee,  Privateer,  captures  British  Shii)  Industry;  sent  to  Nor- 
way, ........  149 

Sails  from  Brest,  on  the  24th  of  November,  1814,  on  a  cruise  in  the 
British  Channel,  ......  303 

Thirty-seven  days  at  sea.  Interesting  and  successful  cruise  of    .  168-169 

Unfortunate  attempt  of  the  Second-Lieutenant  of  the  Leo  to  escape  from 

Gibraltar 292 

United  States  Government,  Embargo  by        .             •            .            .  5 

United  States,  Frigate,  and  British  Frigate  Macedonian,  Battle  between  72-75 

Visit  of  Geo.  Coggeshall  to  Bordeaux  and  Paris,  .  .  208-210 

Voyage  to  France  in  Letter-of-Marque  Schooner  David  Porter,  Geo.  Cogges- 
hall, Commander ;  loads  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,        .  177 

War,  Preparation  for         .....            •  2 

Warrior,  Privateer  Brig,  escapes  from  a  British  Frigate  ai'd  a  Man-of-War,      385 

Warrior,  Privateer,  Amusing  chase  of,  by  British  Frigate,          .             .  328 

Wasp,  Privateer,  captured  by  the  Bream,      ....  126 

Wa.«p,  Successful  cmise  of            ......  214-21.'» 

Captures  Sloops-of-War  Reindeer  and  Avon,    .            .            .  214 

Whitinu.  British  Schooner,  Capture  of     ....            .  37 


438 


INDEX. 


PAOR 

\itiikne,  Privateer,  and   British  Lotter-of-Murqiit',  1  )ijtpoiuU'   rncoiintor  be- 
tween       ........  40 

RfiturnB  to  Rhode  iHlnnd,            .....  151 

Captures  I-^uHt  India  Ship  (Jen.  WolleHlej,              -            .            .  31!» 

York,  I'rivateer,  returnB  to  IJaitimorp,              ....  i><)l 

Young  T(!azer,  I'rivatocr,  nmlioiously  dcBtroyed,  with  loss  of  life,            .  150 

Young  Wasp,  Privateer,  Interesting  Cruise  of            .           .            .  35a 


r!  f 


■;9 


1573 


4 


uU-   rncoiintor  be- 


"Ufe, 


PAOR 

49 
151 

3iy 

891 
156 
352 


